Buste van een bebaarde man, van voren 1646 - 1670

Hubert Quellinus created this engraving of a bearded man. The bust rests upon a pedestal, draped in what appears to be a simple toga, evoking the gravitas of ancient philosophers and statesmen. Consider the beard itself, a symbol deeply rooted in cultural memory. In antiquity, a beard signified wisdom, virility, and status, think of Zeus or Poseidon, instantly recognizable, gods, and father figures. Over time, this symbol shifts, sometimes signifying piety, other times rebellion, yet it persists through art history as a visual shorthand for authority and age. Here, the serene gaze and meticulous detail draw us into a psychological space, inviting contemplation on the nature of leadership and the weight of history. The image is more than a portrait; it’s an embodiment of archetypal memory, passed down, reinterpreted, and perpetually relevant.