"De Profundis" from The Complete Works of Béranger 1836

This lithograph by J.J. Grandville, titled "De Profundis," presents a man in formal attire, dabbing his eyes with a handkerchief. Here, the handkerchief—a simple square of fabric—becomes a potent symbol. The gesture of wiping away tears links us to antiquity. The act of covering one's face in grief can be traced back to ancient Roman practices and even further to theatrical traditions. Think of tragic figures in Greek dramas who concealed their faces to amplify emotional distress. Over time, this evolved; the handkerchief became a more refined instrument for expressing sorrow, a delicate dance between concealment and display. Consider how our collective memory imprints meaning upon the simplest of objects. The handkerchief, now a culturally loaded prop, engages viewers on a profound, subconscious level. Its evolution underscores the non-linear progression of visual symbols, constantly resurfacing and adapting across the ages.