Portret van een onbekende man 1601 - 1657

This is a portrait of an unknown man, made by Pieter Serwouters as an engraving. The ruff collar, meticulously etched, speaks volumes about the sitter’s status and the era’s rigid social codes. The ruff, which emerged in the mid-16th century, wasn't merely a fashion statement. It was a symbol of wealth, and power. We see similar neckwear across Europe, from the Spanish court to the portraits of the Dutch elite. Consider how this motif evolves, becoming more elaborate. The ruff eventually transforms into the lace collars we see later in the 17th century. What psychological impulse drives this need to declare one’s standing so visibly? Perhaps it is a collective anxiety about identity, manifested in the exaggerated forms of clothing. This portrait, in its details, becomes a mirror reflecting the anxieties and aspirations of an era. The symbols progress in a cyclical manner, reappearing, evolving, and adapting across different contexts.