Elegante dame, haar waaier openend 1619 - 1623

Adriaen Matham created this engraving, "Elegant Lady Opening her Fan", in the Netherlands, sometime in the 17th century. During this period, the Dutch Republic was a major center for trade and art. Matham's elegant lady, with her elaborate dress, hints at the elevated status and wealth that characterized the era’s elite. Her fashionable attire, fan, and bouquet reflect the importance of visual codes in defining social identity. However, there is an intriguing divergence from tradition, with the addition of a small pair of wings emerging from her shoulders. These wings add a layer of complexity to her image. This could be an allegory of beauty and virtue or even a representation of a mythological figure. The artist's intention remains ambiguous, inviting us to contemplate the nuances of identity and representation. Ultimately, Matham’s engraving captures both the grandeur and the subtleties of a society in transition, inviting a dialogue between the old and the new, the real and the ideal.