Portret van L. Thijs 1831 - 1890

This is Jean Baptiste Pierre Michiels' portrait of L. Thijs, made with etching and drypoint. Dominating the composition is the sitter’s clerical collar. This seemingly simple band of white linen carries with it centuries of symbolic weight, a visual marker of religious authority. The clerical collar’s form and function extend far beyond mere attire. It evokes ideas of purity and spiritual commitment. Consider how the high collar—a symbol of restraint and devotion—reappears in various guises throughout history. We see echoes of it in the severe necklines of Renaissance portraits and even in the chokers of the Victorian era, each adaptation subtly altering the original symbol's significance. The gaze of L. Thijs, coupled with the starkness of his attire, evokes a deep, subconscious response. It taps into our collective memory of authority figures, stirring feelings of respect. It’s a potent reminder of how symbols transcend time, continuously reshaped by culture.