Fragmenten van prenten met wereldlijke en geestelijke klederdrachten 1581 - 1596

These fragments of prints depicting secular and religious garments were created by Abraham de Bruyn around the late 16th century in the Netherlands, a time when clothing served as a potent signifier of identity and social standing. Considered through the lens of social history, these scraps offer a glimpse into the rigid hierarchies of the era. Clothing dictated one's place in society, reflecting gender, class, and religious affiliation. These fragments capture a society where identity was performed and visually enforced through dress. What stories do these fragments tell about the lives of those who wore such garments? What power dynamics were at play in a world where clothing served as a constant marker of difference? The intimate scale of these pieces invites us to consider the personal dimension of historical existence, urging us to reflect on the corporeal experience of living in the past.