Françoise de Grasigny n.d.

This is a mezzotint portrait of Françoise de Grasigny, created by Jean Baptiste André Gautier d'Agoty. Look at the elaborate lace that adorns her neck and bodice. It evokes a sense of delicacy, but also of status and refinement that was very much en vogue at the time. This motif of lace has woven its way through the centuries, appearing in countless portraits and fashion designs. From the stiff, starched ruffs of the Elizabethan era to the flowing, sensuous lace of the Rococo period, each iteration reflects the values and aesthetics of its time. Consider, for example, how lace appears in Dutch Golden Age paintings, symbolizing wealth and moral purity. Yet, centuries later, it might be seen as a symbol of decadence. This enduring appeal of lace reveals how visual symbols evolve over time. They continually resurface, laden with new associations, each echo resonating with the collective memory of those who behold it.