Voorschriften voor hofkleding 1900 - 1940

This drawing, by Patricq Kroon, was made in the Netherlands around the turn of the century, and it is rendered in pencil. It shows two men in elaborate military dress. The drawing lampoons the military and courtly fashion through its visual codes. The title, "Voorschriften voor hofkleding," which translates to "Regulations for court dress," combined with the subtitle, "Military Infection," suggests a critique of the militarization of courtly life. The cartoonish exaggeration of the figures' features and clothing ridicules the rigid formality and perceived absurdity of military protocols. Kroon likely drew from his observations of Dutch society, where class distinctions were reinforced through dress codes and social rituals. Newspapers, fashion plates, and manuals on etiquette provide insight into the social norms Kroon challenges. The artist uses humor to comment on the structures of his time, inviting the viewer to question the values of a society that places so much emphasis on appearance and rank.