Portret van een jonge vrouw met halsketting met medaillon 1861 - 1900

This is a portrait of a young woman with a necklace with a medallion made by Carel Eduard Westerborg. Note the medallion, a motif echoing back to antiquity, a testament to memory and identity. In ancient Rome, medallions were worn as symbols of status or allegiance. Think of emperors depicted on coins, their profiles not merely images but assertions of power. This tradition evolved, finding new life in Renaissance pendants, often portraits of loved ones, small worlds of affection captured in precious metal. Observe how such objects shift from declarations of public identity to intimate expressions of personal connection. The medallion is not simply adornment but a vessel, laden with the emotional weight of remembrance. Consider how these symbols resonate across time, echoing through history, constantly reformed by collective memory and desire.