Portret van Jacobus Perizonius c. 1850

Leendert Springer's portrait of Jacobus Perizonius presents a figure framed by the elaborate curls of a wig and the stark white of a draped collar. The artist uses soft color to give shape to the subject's face, while more angular lines define the contours of his coat. Springer's work seems to be less about pure representation and more about exploring the cultural codes of the time, where one's social standing was revealed through meticulous detail in clothing and hair. The semiotic weight of the wig and collar signals a figure of status and intellect, conforming to 18th-century ideals of class and academic achievement. Consider how Springer uses line and form to craft a character rather than simply record a likeness. His image serves not just as a portrait but as a study of how outward appearances are carefully constructed to convey specific messages about identity and role within society.