Portræt af en kvinde 1588 - 1656

Nicolaes Eliasz Pickenoy captured this woman's likeness in a drawing. The elaborate ruff collar encircling her neck isn't merely a fashion statement; it's a symbol of status and refinement. The ruff, with its starched pleats and delicate lace trim, speaks volumes about the sitter's social standing during the Dutch Golden Age. Across Europe, similar forms of neckwear appear, evolving from simple linen bands to extravagant, multi-layered constructions. Consider the portraits of Queen Elizabeth I, where the ruff becomes an almost architectural element, projecting power and authority. The psychological weight of such adornment is palpable. It confines and elevates simultaneously, dictating posture and commanding attention. This tension between constraint and display reveals the complex interplay of social expectations and individual expression. The ruff, then, becomes a potent emblem of its time, resonating with echoes of ambition, control, and the enduring human desire for recognition.