Staande cavalier met cape en gepluimde hoed 1633 - 1665

Salomon Savery created this print of a standing cavalier with cape and plumed hat sometime between 1614 and 1678. During this time, the Dutch Republic was experiencing its Golden Age, marked by economic prosperity and cultural flourishing. Savery’s cavalier embodies the swagger and opulence of the era's elite. The figure's elaborate attire—the flamboyant hat, the decorative cape, and the carefully styled hair—speak to a culture deeply invested in outward appearances as markers of social status and personal identity. Consider how fashion in the 17th century served as a powerful signifier of class and allegiance. Savery, through his meticulous rendering of details, not only captures the aesthetic of the time, but also invites us to reflect on the social values and hierarchies it represents. This image is as much about personal expression as it is about the broader societal structures that dictated who could afford to express themselves in such extravagant terms.