Studioportret van een vrouw in een hooggesloten jurk en pijpenkrullen in het haar c. 1863 - 1870

This studio portrait of a woman in a high-necked dress, with curled hair, was created by Wegner & Mottu. The high neckline, emblematic of modesty and virtue, speaks to the sartorial codes of the time, when clothing served as a powerful signifier of social standing and moral rectitude. This buttoned-up appearance isn't just a matter of fashion; it's a visual language. Think of similar garments across different eras: the tightly laced bodices of Renaissance portraits, or even the austere robes of religious orders. Each iteration carries its own weight of societal expectations. The act of concealing becomes as important as the act of revealing, as seen throughout history. The psychological weight of these cultural symbols is profound. In the collective memory, such garments might evoke feelings of constraint, but also of dignity and self-respect. The enduring appeal of these motifs lies in their ability to tap into our shared, subconscious understanding of societal roles. We should consider the cyclical nature of fashion, and this portrait of a woman is just one point on the ever-turning wheel.