Portret van David Fransz. van Hoogstraten 1698

This is Pieter Schenk's portrait of David Fransz. van Hoogstraten, etched in the late 17th or early 18th century. Encircling the subject is an oval frame containing his name and title, a motif we see echoing through centuries, from ancient Roman portrait busts to Renaissance medallions. The oval, in particular, carries a potent symbolism. It's not merely a geometric shape; it’s an egg, a seed, a promise of life and renewal. Think of the ovals framing the faces of Roman emperors, or Renaissance depictions of the Virgin Mary. This continuous line, unbroken, speaks to an enduring presence, a timeless quality that the artist seeks to bestow upon the sitter. But note how the rigid frame is softened by the flowing curls of Hoogstraten’s wig. This interplay between constraint and fluidity, echoes the eternal dance between order and chaos that courses through all of human experience. Such symbols engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The oval then is not simply a frame, it becomes a vessel, a symbol of cyclical return, forever resurfacing, and taking on new meanings.