Epaulet van Jhr. Hoeufft, in 1830/32 kapitein bij de afdeling Schutterij 1830 - 1832

This epaulette of Jhr. Hoeufft, made around 1830/32 by an anonymous artist, presents a fascinating study in texture and form. The interplay of rigid structure and fluid embellishment immediately captures our attention. The epaulette is sharply divided. We see a flat plane extending horizontally, countered by the curved, cylindrical form that anchors it. The metallic thread, meticulously wound, creates a dense, almost impenetrable surface. This contrasts dramatically with the cascade of loose, flowing fringe. The fringe introduces a sense of dynamic movement. The contrast between the static and the dynamic is important here. Semiotically, the epaulette is a signifier of rank and authority, a visual code representing the wearer’s status within a hierarchical system. Yet, the artist destabilizes this rigid symbolism. The elaborate fringe hints at the performative aspects of power and questions the fixed meaning of military regalia. It transforms a symbol of authority into an object of aesthetic contemplation.