Buste van een onbekende man 1758 - 1808

This small drawing of an unknown man was etched by Christina Chalon in the 18th century, and resides in the Rijksmuseum. Here, the subject’s head covering is of interest. This covering appears as a simple cap, however, head coverings throughout history are indicative of class, trade, or piety. One might consider the Phrygian cap, donned during the French Revolution: a symbol of liberty and freedom. But let us look further back to antiquity, where head coverings signified freedom from enslavement. Thus, the cap has appeared time and again, a motif deeply embedded in our collective memory, and resurfacing in moments of societal transformation. Our subconscious is fertile ground for symbols such as these, passed down through the ages, subtly influencing our perception. It is in this way that images speak to us.