Man in lange mantel en met bontmuts op de rug gezien c. 1774 - 1789

Jean-Pierre Norblin de la Gourdaine created this miniature drawing of a man in a long coat and fur hat, likely during his time in Poland in the late 18th century. Norblin was a French artist who became a court painter to a Polish Prince. He offers us a glimpse into the sartorial customs of the Polish szlachta, or noble class. The figure’s garb, especially the fur hat, would have been a marker of social status and a declaration of Polish identity. Dress was a powerful signifier in a society where the nobility had special legal privileges and customs. Norblin's work provides visual documents of a culture undergoing significant political upheaval, including the Partitions of Poland that ultimately erased the country from the map. By looking at fashion plates, portraits, and political cartoons of the period we are able to better understand the nuances of social status. What does it mean to see the back of this man? Is he walking away from the old social order?