About this artwork
This print from July 1839, titled "La Mode," presents three women adorned in the latest fashions. Note the parasol, a recurring motif throughout art history. In this era, the parasol was not merely a functional object but a potent symbol of status and protection, sheltering delicate skin from the sun's harsh rays. The women here, shielded from the sun, evoke a sense of delicate refinement, connecting back to images of classical goddesses. Think of ancient Greece, where pale skin was a hallmark of the elite. This ideal resurfaces through the parasol. This is similar to images of the Madonna swathed in robes of blue, a color initially derived from the precious stone lapis lazuli, the parasol wraps its bearer in an aura of privilege and elegance. These subtle visual cues engage our collective memory, stirring emotions connected to status, beauty, and aspiration.
Artwork details
- Medium
- print, etching, engraving
- Dimensions
- height 256 mm, width 164 mm
- Copyright
- Rijks Museum: Open Domain
Tags
portrait
etching
romanticism
genre-painting
dress
engraving
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About this artwork
This print from July 1839, titled "La Mode," presents three women adorned in the latest fashions. Note the parasol, a recurring motif throughout art history. In this era, the parasol was not merely a functional object but a potent symbol of status and protection, sheltering delicate skin from the sun's harsh rays. The women here, shielded from the sun, evoke a sense of delicate refinement, connecting back to images of classical goddesses. Think of ancient Greece, where pale skin was a hallmark of the elite. This ideal resurfaces through the parasol. This is similar to images of the Madonna swathed in robes of blue, a color initially derived from the precious stone lapis lazuli, the parasol wraps its bearer in an aura of privilege and elegance. These subtle visual cues engage our collective memory, stirring emotions connected to status, beauty, and aspiration.
Comments
Be the first to share your thoughts about this work.