Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Français, 1785, nr. 26, nr. 52, Kopie naar N 77 : Jeune Dame de Lyon (...) c. 1785

This print, part of the Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Français from 1785, presents a "Jeune Dame de Lyon" adorned in the latest fashion. Note the elaborate hairstyle, “coeffée à la Miriono” with ribbons and pearls. This towering coiffure echoes a long history of elevated hairstyles, symbols of status and artifice. Consider the towering wigs of the Baroque era, symbols of power, made famous by Louis XIV, or even further back, to the elaborate headdresses of ancient Egypt. Here, though, it has morphed into something new, an expression of personal identity, and the freedom of this Lyonnaise young woman. The pearl and diamond ornaments in the hair signal wealth, while the ribbons suggest a playful touch. In this moment, we witness a visual echo resonating through centuries. This is the enduring power of images.