Portret van Willem Jacobus Fockens 1875 - 1899

This photograph of Willem Jacobus Fockens was captured by James F. Goch. It offers a glimpse into the sartorial choices of the time. Note the subject's neatly knotted bow tie; an evolution of the cravat, itself descended from the neckcloths worn by Croatian mercenaries in the 17th century. This seemingly simple knot carries centuries of social and military history. Consider its transformation: from functional garment to a marker of elegance, and later, to the more casual ties of today. Observe also the chain draped across the waistcoat, a distant echo of the chains worn by medieval knights, or the symbols of office donned by Renaissance dignitaries. Here, it's reduced to an accessory, yet it retains a subtle air of authority and status. These details remind us that even in the most mundane of objects, echoes of the past persist, subtly shaping our perceptions and imbuing our present with layers of history. These symbols reappear in different contexts, evolving and taking on new meanings, in a cyclical progression across time.