Costume of Carafagreci (Province of Calabria in the Kingdom of Naples) 1820

Michela De Vito created this watercolor artwork depicting the costume of Carafagreci, in the province of Calabria, during the Kingdom of Naples. The most striking feature is the pointed hat, a motif that echoes through history, reminiscent of Phrygian caps worn in ancient Thrace and later adopted during the French Revolution as symbols of liberty and freedom. Such headwear, associated with the East and ancient Anatolia, finds its way into various cultural expressions, each time carrying a slightly altered significance. Observe also the subject's gesture – an open hand, a symbolic offering of insight, or perhaps a directional guide. This mirrors similar gestures found in ancient Roman art, where figures extend hands to convey authority or benevolence. These motifs, like echoes in a vast chamber, remind us of the collective memory embedded in visual symbols, how they resurface and evolve, engaging us on a subconscious level. The artist taps into this visual lexicon, subtly weaving a non-linear narrative that transcends time.