Voetknechten en palfrenier met paard in fantasiekostuum, aangeduid als 'Indiens' 1670

This engraving by François Chauveau, now at the Rijksmuseum, presents footmen and a groom with a horse adorned in what the artist terms ‘Indian’ costumes. This theatrical interpretation speaks to a European fascination—and misunderstanding—of foreign cultures. Observe the elaborate featherwork and the exoticized attire, motifs intended to convey otherness and luxury. Such symbols hearken back to ancient Roman triumphs, where displays of conquered peoples and their wealth were common. Yet, here, they are filtered through a lens of fantasy and courtly spectacle. Consider the feather, a symbol of flight and freedom. The plumes might remind us of the wings of Hermes, messenger of the gods, or perhaps even Icarus, whose ambition led to his fall. In this context, however, the feathers are tamed, ornamental, and repurposed for aristocratic display. This cyclical progression of symbols, resurfacing and evolving across epochs, reminds us that cultural memory is never fixed, but always in flux. These 'Indian' costumes evoke curiosity, desire, and the complex dance between self and other that continues to shape our world.