Portrait of a lady 

Eugen Eduard Schäffer captured this lady's likeness in a delicate pencil drawing, now housed in the Städel Museum. Her braided hair, neatly coiled, echoes images of ancient Greek goddesses and virtuous Roman women, embodying ideals of composure. This seemingly simple hairstyle carries echoes across centuries. We see it resurface in Renaissance portraits and Neoclassical sculptures, each time reimagined, yet rooted in a common desire to evoke classical virtues and a serene form of beauty. Like an ancient melody, its reappearance triggers a chord in our cultural memory, reminding us of enduring ideals of womanhood. Consider how this motif has been passed down through history, shifting in meaning. The emotional resonance of such images is not merely aesthetic, but a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This braided coil has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.