Portret van Cristóbal de Mondragón y Otalora 1786

This is Jan Punt's print of Cristóbal de Mondragón, immortalized through the lines of an engraver's tool. Note the ruff collar, a symbol of status and formality in the 16th and 17th centuries. This elaborate neckwear, initially practical, evolved into a peacockish display. Think of the stiff, starched collars in Spanish portraits by El Greco. Over time, the ruff morphed, sometimes shrinking, sometimes expanding into wings of lace. Even today, echoes of the ruff appear in high fashion, a stubborn return of a symbol of power and exclusivity. It makes you consider, doesn't it, how items of clothing often begin as practical and then become imbued with a significance we project onto them. Punt's portrait presents not just an image, but an echo of the ruff’s past. The collective memory of status and authority is embedded in every fold, a powerful force engaging us on a subconscious level. It is not linear, but a continuous evolution.