Hertuginden af Cleveland 1650 - 1700

This small drawing of the Duchess of Cleveland was made anonymously, at an unknown date, using red chalk. Its delicate lines capture the sitter's pose and dress, but more importantly, it signifies the politics of imagery in portraiture. Consider the social conditions that shape artistic production. In its time, a portrait was not just a likeness, but a statement of status, wealth and power, shaped by economic structures. The Duchess's pearl necklace and elegant gown broadcast her elevated position within society. Yet, because the artist remains unknown, this piece also raises institutional questions about who got to make art, and for whom. Understanding the portraiture of the time requires research into the sartorial and cultural symbols embedded within it. By examining costume history, we gain insight into the social codes that governed representation. Art history is about uncovering the meaning of art as something contingent on both social and institutional contexts.