Portret van Katherine Manners, hertogin van Buckingham 1610 - 1638

Editor: Here we have "Portret van Katherine Manners, hertogin van Buckingham," created sometime between 1610 and 1638 by Magdalena van de Passe. It's a baroque-style print. What strikes me is the detail in her ruff and the feather; it feels very symbolic of status. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Indeed! Think of the ruff itself: a symbol of separation, almost a barrier, and a claim to status and honor. But also consider the feather, which for centuries was worn or brandished as an emblem of courage or high standing. We see the echo of this sentiment continuing to modern times. Consider fashion through the decades – is that courage merely ostentatious now, or are we continually layering new symbolic meaning upon those old foundations? Editor: So, you are saying even everyday fashion continues symbolic messaging that originated hundreds of years ago? Curator: Absolutely. Consider, too, the fact that this image exists as a print, suggesting that the sitter, Katherine Manners, wanted to broadcast that status far and wide, further perpetuating it, and influencing others' understandings of what that status meant. Do you notice anything specific about how those engravings function, themselves, as symbolic statements? Editor: I never really considered how deeply ingrained certain symbols are and how they evolve over time! Thinking about modern fashion, there’s a clear through-line to status symbols. Curator: Precisely! Visual symbols and their emotional and cultural weight resonate, change, and transform society. What a powerful portrait!