Dame in mantel met falbalas en fontange, naar rechts 1715 - 1720

Sébastien Leclerc I created this print titled "Dame in mantel met falbalas en fontange, naar rechts" with etching in the late 17th or early 18th century. The composition immediately draws our attention to the elaborate costume of a woman, rendered with precise, delicate lines against a stark white background. The profusion of frills, or "falbalas," and the high headdress, or "fontange," present a fascinating study in texture and form. Leclerc employs line to define not just the shape, but the very essence of the fabric - we feel its weight, see its folds, and appreciate the artistry required to capture such detail. In its time, such prints served as a semiotic system, communicating status, taste and the intricate codes of courtly fashion. Consider how the artist uses the contrast between the detailed dress and the blank space to focus our gaze. This contrast destabilizes the traditional portrait, shifting emphasis from individual likeness to the cultural performance of fashion. It invites us to contemplate how clothing functions as a language, speaking volumes about the wearer's identity and place in society.