Reproductie van een gravure van een portret van Matthijs Cock door Johannes Wierix before 1877

This is Joseph Maes’ reproduction of Johannes Wierix’s engraving of Matthijs Cock. Note the subject’s hands, clasped gently before him. This gesture, at first glance, may appear as a simple act of repose. Yet, it echoes through the corridors of art history, recurring in portraits of figures from various epochs. Think back to the Renaissance depictions of learned men and nobles. Consider how often clasped hands appear. Sometimes it conveys piety or thoughtfulness; other times, it speaks to authority and control. The subtle shift in the tilt of the head, the direct gaze—these are not merely techniques for capturing a likeness. They are deliberate choices, designed to engage viewers on a subconscious level. The history of art is a non-linear progression, with symbols resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.