Engelse vrouw van stand met lint om het middel 1639 - 1707

This engraving of an English noblewoman, created by Wenceslaus Hollar, captures the fashions of the 17th century with incredible detail. Hollar masterfully uses line and texture to bring out the opulence of the noblewoman's dress. Notice how the intricate patterns and the sheen of the fabric are conveyed purely through the density and direction of etched lines. This formal emphasis on fabric, rather than figure, subtly shifts the focus onto the social semiotics of dress. Clothing in this era served as an important signifier of social status, and the artwork prompts us to consider fashion as a language in itself, communicating specific messages about identity, class, and cultural values. The composition, dominated by the dress, implies a structured approach to social identity, where external appearances play a crucial role in defining an individual's place within the cultural hierarchy.