Fragmenten van prenten met wereldlijke en geestelijke klederdrachten 1581 - 1596

These are fragments of prints depicting secular and religious clothing, made by Abraham de Bruyn around the late 16th century. De Bruyn was working in a period marked by the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation, a time when clothing was not just functional but also a potent signifier of religious and social identity. These fragments offer glimpses into the rigid hierarchies of the era, where clothing dictated one's place in society. What does it mean to see these figures—likely rendered with precision—now fragmented, almost ghostly? Consider how fashion, then and now, embodies our aspirations, our rebellions, and our conformity. These fragments are a poignant reminder of the ephemeral nature of identity and the enduring power of clothing to both define and confine us. How do you feel when you look at them?