Kniebroek of rijbroek van geel zeemleder, met kniesluiting met zes knopen en twee veters; in de voorzijde van de taille twee zakken c. 1785 - 1795

Here we see a pair of breeches made of yellow leather, their maker now lost to us. Note the six buttons and two laces at the knees. These fastenings are more than mere function; they speak to a history of constraint and control, echoing the laced corsets of women, or the tightly bound feet of the Chinese. Clothing, indeed, becomes a second skin, shaping not just the body but also the very psyche. Consider how these laces, once tied, dictate movement, impose posture, and perhaps, subtly, influence thought. The wearer is bound, yes, but also defined. Across epochs and cultures, we find similar motifs of binding, reappearing in religious vestments and military uniforms, each a symbol of identity and belonging. Yet, beneath the surface, we see a primal fear of the uncontained, a need to impose order on the chaotic fluidity of human existence. This is a cyclical progression, resurfacing, evolving, and ever taking on new meanings.