Vijf dameskapsels 1778

Curator: Welcome. Today, we are examining "Vijf dameskapsels," or "Five Ladies' Hairstyles," an etching by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki from 1778. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Oh my, what a riot of styles! It feels almost like a cheeky caricature, but there's something fascinating about the detail. They are so elaborate. I'm drawn to the almost cartoonish absurdity of it all. Curator: Indeed. Chodowiecki was very interested in depicting the nuances of everyday life. This print showcases the evolving fashion of the late 18th century, particularly the Rococo obsession with ornate hairstyles. Editor: Obsession is right. Look at the one with the massive feathers – a complete statement of wealth and status. It screams excess at a time of rising social inequality, doesn’t it? Curator: That’s a key point. These extravagant hairstyles were undoubtedly status symbols. The higher the hair, the higher the status, you might say. It highlights the conspicuous consumption of the aristocracy, particularly in pre-Revolutionary France, where these styles originated and spread. Editor: And it was an almost performative way to consume and display status. How does something this outrageous even become a trend? Curator: Fashion, of course, is always influenced by socio-political forces. The French court, under Marie Antoinette, heavily influenced fashion trends throughout Europe. A print like this both documents and gently satirizes that influence. Think of this as an early form of social commentary through visual culture. Editor: I can’t help but consider how these hairstyles impacted women’s lives beyond being simple status symbols. How comfortable or practical were they? And at what cost were these trends normalized? Were there even political allegiances based on the specific forms one's hairstyle might take? It raises a question: What kind of societal power were women wielding through their choice of dress and hairstyle? Curator: Absolutely, it’s essential to view this beyond just aesthetics. Consider the labor involved. These hairstyles required hours of work by skilled hairdressers, which suggests the elaborate network of servitude underpinning aristocratic life. It’s a micro-history of economic disparity embedded in the lines of an etching. Editor: It's astounding how much social commentary is packed into what initially seems like a simple fashion plate. Makes you wonder, what absurdities are we normalizing today that future generations will find just as baffling? Curator: Indeed, it encourages reflection. And as an object produced through printmaking, it shows how new aesthetics in this era permeated throughout social strata. Editor: Food for thought – or maybe hairspray for thought, in this case!