Eine Versammlung von vielen Männern, alle in Schuhen und Strümpfen, nur einer in Stiefeln 

Anthony van Dyck created this pen and brown ink drawing, “A Gathering of Many Men, All in Shoes and Stockings, Only One in Boots,” during the 17th century. Van Dyck, a leading Flemish Baroque artist, captures a moment that subtly speaks to the hierarchical structures of his time. Notice the sea of men uniformly dressed, yet punctuated by a single figure in boots. This sartorial divergence hints at class distinctions, where even footwear becomes a marker of status and power. The gazes of the men are directed towards an unseen focal point, perhaps symbolizing the magnetic pull of authority or the collective anticipation of a command. Van Dyck, as a court painter, was acutely aware of how clothing and posture could convey authority, class, and identity. This drawing is not just a study of figures, it’s a silent stage where the dramas of social hierarchy play out, asking us to reflect on who gets to stand out and who blends into the background.