Portret van Paulus Buys 1749 - 1759

This is Jacob Houbraken's portrait of Paulus Buys, likely made as an engraving around the mid-18th century. Buys, a prominent Dutch lawyer, is captured within an oval frame, his gaze direct and assured. A striking feature is the elaborate ruff collar, a symbol of status and formality during the 16th and 17th centuries. The ruff, initially a modest addition to clothing, evolved into an extravagant display of wealth and fashion. Consider its echoes in earlier, more symbolic forms like the feathered collars of ancient Mesoamerican deities, signaling power and divine status. The ruff, therefore, becomes more than mere fabric; it’s a historical marker, a cultural echo resonating through centuries. It's a powerful visual declaration, a symbol of authority and self-presentation. This portrait, through its careful detail and symbolic elements, invites us to consider the enduring human impulse to construct and convey identity.