Portret van een vrouw 1880 - 1920

This portrait of a woman was crafted by Chits & Fils. Observe the brooch worn by the sitter, a circular emblem placed at the center of her chest. Such adornments have long served as declarations of identity, announcing allegiances, status, or memory. Consider the classical cameo. It often features a profile portrait, echoing ancient Roman traditions. While the brooch in this portrait may not be a cameo, it evokes the same impulse, to carry personal iconography. These customs of adornment resurface throughout history. Royal portraits, for example, are laden with jewels and emblems. Think, too, of modern-day badges. They all operate within a symbolic language of self-representation. The human impulse to adorn ourselves with meaningful symbols taps into a deep psychological need—to locate ourselves within a network of shared meanings, a collective memory passed down through generations. The brooch, thus, is not merely an ornament, but a subtle invocation of timeless human longings.