Ornatus Muliebris Anglicanus (The Clothing of English Women) 1639 - 1640

Wenceslaus Hollar created this detailed etching, "Ornatus Muliebris Anglicanus," capturing the attire of English women. The pearls adorning the woman's neck are more than mere finery. Throughout history, they have symbolized purity, wisdom, and even tears. I am reminded of Botticelli’s Venus, similarly adorned, rising from the sea, embodying divine beauty and the mysteries of the feminine. Yet, here, the pearls take on a different nuance. They reflect the sitter's status and perhaps hint at the complex expectations placed upon women. Consider how the pearl has traversed time, from ancient Roman jewelry to Renaissance paintings, each era imbuing it with new significance while retaining echoes of the past. Such symbols remind us that images are never truly still, but constantly shifting. They echo through the corridors of time. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.