Lady with a Large Ruff and Her Hair Worn Down c. 17th century

Curator: Immediately, there's this controlled flamboyance; it's both elegant and quite severe. Editor: Indeed. What we have here is Jacques Callot's etching, "Lady with a Large Ruff and Her Hair Worn Down," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The work offers a glimpse into the material culture of the early 17th century. Curator: That ruff... its construction must have been so labor-intensive! Imagine the starching. You know, looking at those puffed sleeves, it almost feels like she's wearing the architecture of her time. Editor: Absolutely! The scale of production for garments like this reflected the societal power dynamics of the time, the textiles themselves and the people who made them. Curator: It's a world away from my jeans and t-shirt, but I can still feel a little bit of her spirit, constrained as she may be. Editor: Precisely. The consumption of luxury goods was as much about self-expression as it was about demonstrating wealth and status. Curator: It does make you consider the artistry and toil behind every piece of clothing! Editor: A fascinating testament to a bygone era, indeed.