Portrait of a Nobleman c. 1570

This is a portrait of a nobleman, made with oil on wood panel by an anonymous artist. The striking ruff collar, a symbol of status, immediately captures our attention. This elaborate collar finds its echoes in the pleated linen of ancient Egypt, each fold a marker of social standing. Yet, it is more than mere decoration; it’s a psychological barrier. As we see it reappearing through history, it visually separates the wearer from the world, creating an aura of inaccessibility and power. Think of the simple linen cloths evolving into the towering wigs of the French aristocracy. The impulse remains consistent: to elevate, to distinguish, to project an image of superiority. These images, imbued with collective memory and aspiration, exert a strange, almost subconscious hold on us. The ruff, like all symbols, is not static. It ebbs and flows, resurfaces, and reinvents itself, a testament to our enduring need to express, negotiate, and sometimes, conceal.