Achterzijde van een kapsel met muts voor een uitknippop 1825 - 1875

This is a small paper cutout, showing the rear view of a hairstyle with a bonnet, by an anonymous artist. On the surface, it is a humble artifact, likely from Europe. But, considering its purpose as part of a paper doll, it opens a window onto the cultural values and social expectations surrounding women and childhood. The doll, and its various outfits, served as a tool for young girls to internalize societal norms about fashion, domesticity, and gender roles. The bonnet itself speaks to the constraints placed upon women's appearance, modesty, and class distinctions. To fully understand this seemingly simple object, we might research the history of fashion, the material culture of childhood, and the social history of women in the era it was made. Only then can we appreciate the complex ways in which even seemingly innocuous objects can reflect and reinforce the power structures of their time.