Broche in de vorm van een narrenkop c. 1897 - 1899

René Lalique designed this brooch in the shape of a jester's head. We can see how Lalique uses a palette of muted tones and soft textures to create a sense of delicate beauty. The cool, ethereal expression is framed by the elaborate swirls of the jester's hat. The composition is structured around the contrast between the human face and the abstract ornamentation. The face, carved from a pale material, is smooth and classically rendered, contrasting with the Art Nouveau extravagance of the hat, with stylized forms in gold and enamel. The jester figure destabilizes conventional understandings of value. Is it high art or decorative object? What does it mean to adorn oneself with an image of a jester? What does that say about the individual? The jester’s pearl symbolizes purity and is deliberately placed at the centre of the composition. The brooch encapsulates Art Nouveau’s complex engagement with themes of identity and representation, where traditional forms blend with radical aesthetic innovation.