Lester Wallack Dressed as a Flemish Gentleman of 1578, from the set Actors and Actresses, First Series (N70) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888 - 1889

This chromolithograph card, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. between 1870 and 1920, portrays Lester Wallack in the garb of a Flemish gentleman from 1578. Note the prominent hat adorned with plumes, a flamboyant symbol of status and wealth during the Renaissance. This sartorial flamboyance echoes across history, reminding us of similar displays of opulence. One might recall the elaborate headwear in Renaissance portraits, or even further back, the ceremonial headdresses of ancient cultures. This impulse to visually assert social standing through elaborate attire is not linear, but cyclical. It resurfaces time and again, shaped by the collective desires and anxieties of each era. The plumed hat, therefore, becomes a potent symbol—a visual echo resonating through time, reflecting our enduring fascination with status and identity.