Fotoreproductie van een portret van Catherine Willoughby door Hans Holbein before 1877

This is a reproduction of a portrait of Catherine Willoughby, possibly after Hans Holbein, rendered with delicate strokes. The sitter's elaborate headdress immediately draws our attention. This is no mere fashion statement; it speaks volumes about status and identity in the Tudor court. The headdress, adorned with geometric precision, echoes similar head coverings found across Europe, from the elaborate Burgundian hennins of the previous century to the more restrained styles of the German Renaissance. Think of the many depictions of female saints throughout the mediaeval ages, their heads covered in ornate drapery, signaling modesty and reverence. Here, the headdress might symbolize a complex interplay of piety, status, and cultural exchange. This reproduction allows us to consider how these symbols persist and transform, each line and form carrying echoes of the past, subtly reshaping our perception of the present.