Dame met fontange, open waaier in de hand, naar links 1715 - 1720

Editor: This is "Dame met fontange, open waaier in de hand, naar links," or "Lady with Fontange, Open Fan in Hand, Facing Left," an engraving by Sébastien Leclerc I, dating back to the early 18th century. The level of detail achieved with just lines is really remarkable. What catches your eye? Curator: Oh, where does one begin with such a confection of the Baroque period! Beyond the craftsmanship, it sings to me of coded messages, don’t you think? The fan, the pose... it's a theatrical language of longing and availability, or perhaps the opposite! Consider her *fontange,* a towering, be-ribboned headdress, a marvel of engineering and social signaling! What’s your feeling on it? Editor: That’s interesting...I hadn't thought about coded language. I mainly just saw the fashion. The headdress does seem…unstable! Like it could topple over at any moment. I suppose, knowing that these fashions were for the elite does change things, though. What does the fan tell us? Curator: Exactly! That fragility is part of its charm, the ultimate precarious balancing act to signal social power. The fan...Ah! A whole vocabulary resides in how it's held, how open, what is concealed, and what's revealed! Think of it as proto-emoji in fabric and bone. What sort of mood would you ascribe? Coquettish, coy, a touch bored maybe? Editor: Maybe a bit of bored elegance. This piece really makes me want to read more about 18th-century fashion and social etiquette. Thanks for sharing your perspective! Curator: My pleasure! It’s amazing how a little bit of focused looking can open up these historical doors. Each line tells a story if you only take a breath to see it!