Portret van Cornelis Hofland 1666 - 1676

Theodor Matham created this print of Cornelis Hofland, a pastor from Haarlem, sometime in the 17th century. Hofland is encircled by an inscription, a visual motif that echoes through time and space. Consider the 'imago clipeata' of ancient Rome, where portraits were framed in shields, embodying honor and authority. Here, the oval border, inscribed with Latin phrases, similarly elevates Hofland. The book he holds alludes to his learning and devotion to scripture. Such objects in portraits have served as powerful indicators of identity and status across centuries. Observe how the shield with the lion rampant is itself an ancient symbol, and see how it transcends cultures, appearing in medieval heraldry, and even earlier, in ancient Near Eastern art. Symbols like these have a life of their own, continually re-emerging and evolving in meaning, shaped by collective memory and the currents of cultural transmission. Each iteration echoes the past while resonating with the present.