Deugniet 1756 - 1776

Gilles Demarteau’s “Deugniet” presents a seemingly simple portrait, yet it is rich with cultural echoes. The boy’s oversized hat, adorned with foliage, might initially seem a whimsical detail. Yet it resonates with ancient symbols of nature and fertility. Across millennia, headwear has signified status and identity, think of the cornucopia headdress worn by the Roman goddess Ceres, embodying the earth's bounty. Here, the hat speaks to the cyclical forces of nature and life. The playful gesture is suggestive. Are we seeing innocence or mischief? The smirk is reminiscent of the “puer aeternus”, the eternal child, often associated with restlessness and a challenge to societal norms. Such gestures tap into our collective memory, evoking the push and pull between freedom and constraint. In art, these symbols do not merely represent; they engage our subconscious, prompting a dialogue between past and present, reflecting how symbols, laden with memory and emotion, continuously resurface.