Portret van Per Johan Wimermark 1796

This is a drawing of Per Johan Wimermark, made by Jan Brandes. The stark white collar, a signifier of religious office, immediately draws our eye. The white collar has roots stretching back to ancient Roman neck cloths, which evolved through the medieval era into symbols of clerical status. The color white itself, across many cultures, signifies purity and spiritual authority. Note how this same motif reappears in portraits of religious figures throughout history, each time subtly altered yet fundamentally the same. Consider, for example, how similar collars appear in Dutch Golden Age portraits of Calvinist ministers, a reflection of their solemn duty. Such symbols engage viewers on a subconscious level, evoking feelings of reverence and respect, a testament to the enduring power of cultural memory embedded within visual symbols. The motif of the white collar continues its journey, evolving and adapting to the times, a constant reminder of the cyclical progression of symbols in art and culture.