Portret van William Purdie Dickson before 1891

This is a photographic print of William Purdie Dickson, a portrait imbued with symbols of authority and intellect. The academic robe draped over his shoulders immediately marks him as a man of learning. This garment, a visual signifier of knowledge, has roots stretching back to the medieval university traditions. We find echoes of this motif throughout history, from the mantles of philosophers in ancient Greece to the judicial robes of modern-day judges. Consider the evolution of the toga, once a simple cloth of Roman citizens, transforming into a symbol of power and status. Over time, the robe becomes less about function and more about the symbolic projection of wisdom and authority. The act of holding a book, a gesture of contained knowledge and power, resurfaces time and again. What began as a practical tool for disseminating knowledge evolved into a potent emblem of education. It's not a linear progression but a cyclical one; each era imbues the symbol with new meanings, reinforcing its presence in our collective consciousness.