Portret van Madame du Barry 1771 - 1775

Thomas Watson etched this portrait of Madame du Barry in the late 18th century. The oval frame, a popular motif, is not merely a border, but a symbol of containment. It holds the subject, allowing us to study her. The lace at her throat, similar to a ruff, recalls earlier periods, when neckwear served both to adorn and to constrict. This piece, with its softness, hints at a loosening of social constraints, a subtle shift towards greater freedom, yet echoes of the past linger. Consider how such adornments reappear through history, from Tudor ruffs to Victorian chokers, each reflecting its era’s anxieties and aspirations. The act of framing, of containing, speaks to our need to understand and control our world. Just as the oval captures Madame du Barry, we too seek to capture and hold onto moments, memories, and images. The portrait freezes her in time, but the echoes of history, carried in the lace, remind us that nothing is ever truly still.