Drie schetsen naar het kostuum van een vrouw uit Axel 1683 - 1733

This work, "Drie schetsen naar het kostuum van een vrouw uit Axel", was sketched by Bernard Picart, likely in the early 18th century, with pen in gray on paper. The drawing presents us with three studies of a woman's costume from Axel. Picart's interest lies in the structural elements of attire: the sharp angles of the collar contrasting with the flowing skirt, the arrangement of folds, and the way fabric drapes and defines form. The composition relies on the interplay between the figure's front and back views, along with a profile head study, creating a comprehensive look at the garment. Here, the pen strokes create not just an image, but a semiotic code. Each line, each shadow, is a signifier that points to a deeper understanding of cultural identity as expressed through clothing. The formal approach used by Picart in this drawing prompts us to consider how clothing functions as a visual language, communicating social status and regional identity within the complex cultural landscape.