Portret van Sara van Baerle, echtgenote van Philips van Dorp 1747

Here we see a portrait of Sara van Baerle, wife of Philips van Dorp, rendered in chalk by Jan Maurits Quinkhard. The sitter's adornments offer an insight into the spirit of the age. Note the feather in her hair, an emblem that transcends mere fashion. Long before it adorned the caps of musketeers, feathers were potent symbols of power and spirituality. Think of ancient Egyptian headdresses where feathers represented Ma'at, the embodiment of truth and cosmic order. Over time, this association with authority evolved, transforming into a marker of nobility and refinement, as seen here. Consider how such symbols, once imbued with sacred meaning, are secularized, yet still carry echoes of their origins. The feather's presence evokes a sense of aspiration and status, a psychological assertion of identity that still resonates, albeit faintly, with its ancient counterparts. It is a testament to the cyclical nature of symbols, forever resurfacing and adapting, their ancestral power subtly influencing our perceptions.