Portret van Jacob van der Togt burgermeester van Gouda c. 1792 - 1808

Lambertus Antonius Claessens created this print of Jacob van der Togt, mayor of Gouda, sometime around the late 18th century. Note the mayor's severe expression and the dark, heavy robes. It is hard not to recognize in these symbols of authority a lineage that stretches far back. Consider, for example, how the robes echo the draped togas of Roman senators or even the solemn attire of medieval scholars. These garments are not merely clothing; they are visual signifiers of power, knowledge, and tradition. This costume has been passed down through generations, each time reinforcing the wearer's connection to a historical, almost mythic, past. The sober expression mirrors that found in ancient busts of emperors and philosophers, all of whom sought to project an image of calm, rational leadership. This emotional restraint, this carefully constructed persona, speaks to the enduring human desire for order and control. The portrait serves as a powerful reminder of our collective, subconscious yearning for stable authority. And so, the wheel turns, and the past lives again in the present.