Portret van Kaspar Ruef 1793

This print, made by Wilhelm Arndt, presents us with a portrait of Kaspar Ruef, surrounded by symbols that speak volumes about his identity and the era in which he lived. The most striking of these is the hand-over-heart gesture. A motif that transcends cultures and epochs. We see it echoed in classical sculptures, religious iconography, and even modern political imagery. In this context, the hand gesture signifies sincerity, loyalty, and perhaps even a quiet piety, values deeply cherished in the 18th century. This brings to mind similar gestures in ancient Roman art, where orators and leaders would use a similar hand position to emphasize the honesty of their words. The evolution of this motif speaks to our collective unconscious, revealing how symbols can be both timeless and fluid, adapting to new cultural contexts while retaining their fundamental emotional resonance. It invites us to ponder on the enduring human quest for truth and integrity, echoing through the corridors of time.