Vrouw met grote kanten kraag en gekruld haar 1647

Wenceslaus Hollar created this etching of a woman with a large lace collar and curly hair in 1647. Hollar was a prolific printmaker, born in Prague and active in various European centers, including England. The woman’s elaborate costume and careful hairstyle speak to the fashion and social status of the European elite in the 17th century. Lace, in particular, was a luxury item, and its presence here signals wealth and refinement. The conventions of portraiture at the time emphasized these markers of status, reinforcing social hierarchies through visual representation. Looking closely at the etching techniques Hollar uses, the fine lines and details would have taken considerable skill, reflecting the professionalization of printmaking as an industry at this time. The work is now held at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Further research into costume history and the social history of fashion would help us understand the full cultural context of this image and its function in shaping perceptions of status and identity.