Randornament met gevleugeld vrouwelijk bovenlichaam 1618

This is an ornamental design with a winged female torso by H. Picart. During the time this print was made, ornament prints were used as models by artisans who were not always allowed the creative freedom to express themselves. The winged female figure gives a nod to classical mythology, but within the strict confines of decorative art. The ornament is rife with swirls and botanicals, and evokes an ethereal sensibility, though it feels more like a suggestion of freedom rather than a full expression of it. In this sense, the female figure becomes a symbol of what is suppressed, but not completely extinguished. The tension between freedom and constraint asks us to consider the role of women in society at the time, and the ways in which their identities were both celebrated and confined. The design prompts a conversation about the tensions between the status quo and the desire for change.