Mulier Coloniensis Exspatians 1643

This is Wenceslaus Hollar’s “Mulier Coloniensis Exspatians,” an etching depicting a woman from Cologne, created in 1643. The work captures a moment in the history of fashion and cultural identity, showing how clothing was not just a matter of personal style, but a marker of social status and regional affiliation. Hollar was born in Prague and spent much of his career in England, but created a series of prints documenting the clothing of women from various European cities. This print, with its detailed rendering of the woman's garments, suggests a story of cultural exchange and perhaps even displacement. The title itself, "Mulier Coloniensis Exspatians," which translates to "A woman from Cologne in outer dress" hints at the complexities of identity in a world of shifting borders and cultural encounters. Hollar's work invites us to reflect on the ways in which clothing and appearance can tell stories about who we are and where we come from, and how these stories are shaped by the forces of history.