The Arnolfini portrait was painted in 1434 by Jan van Eyck and has baffled art historians ever since.
It has been dissected and analyzed maybe more than any other painting in history.
And in the process, become even more mysterious.
The Arnolfini's were part of the new middle classes, trying desperately to fit in.
But no matter how much money they had, or how many possessions they owned, ultimately they were trapped in the social class that society placed them in.
During the Medieval period, a rapid expansion in trade and commerce led to the rise of a new class.
The incredibly wealthy and powerful merchant class.
Bruges in the 15th century was the hub of international trade, and people came from all over the world wanting to get rich, including the Arnolfinis, from Lucca in Italy.
As those merchants became richer, their appetite for social status grew.
Consumerism was rampant, and the ultimate way to show off your wealth was to commission a portrait.
