Fotoreproductie van een portret van Johann Wolfgang von Goethe before 1880

This photogravure by an anonymous artist at the Rijksmuseum captures Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in profile, immortalizing the poet's likeness. Here, Goethe is depicted with a meticulously styled wig—a symbol of status and intellectual prowess. Consider how the wig, initially a marker of social standing, has undergone a curious transformation through time. Once a symbol of authority and belonging, it reappears in different guises—think of the elaborate powdered wigs of the French aristocracy, or even the playful adaptations in contemporary fashion. The image of the wig carries a psychological weight; a performance of identity, reflecting our eternal quest for self-expression and recognition. This portrait serves as a reminder of how symbols, laden with meaning, constantly evolve and resurface, bearing traces of the past into the present.