Studie van de sjaal op het portret van prinses Wilhelmina van Pruisen 1774 - 1837

Charles Howard Hodges rendered this study of a shawl in preparation for a portrait of Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia. The shawl, an emblem of modesty and status, drapes with a careful grace, its folds echoing classical sculptures. Consider the motif of draped fabric. It appears in ancient Roman portraiture, signifying virtue and nobility. Think of the countless Madonnas enveloped in shawls, a visual language of protection. The shawl is not merely fabric, but a symbol. We find echoes of it in the veils of ancient goddesses, and in the protective cloaks of medieval saints. Such recurring motifs reveal our deep-seated needs for security and status, resurfacing in collective memory. Here, the shawl is not just an accessory; it is a powerful force. It is an embodiment of identity and the human need for distinction.