Woman with a bound tress of hair in profile to right 1645

Wenceslaus Hollar made this etching of a woman in 1645. The image presents a profile of a woman’s head and shoulders, with particular attention paid to her elaborate hairstyle. Hollar was a prolific and cosmopolitan artist working across Europe during the 17th century, a period marked by significant social and political upheaval. He was born in Prague, worked in Germany, and eventually settled in England, serving as a court artist for the exiled Charles II during the English Civil War. His career was shaped by the patronage networks of the European aristocracy. This etching reflects the period’s fascination with classical aesthetics and the display of status through fashion. It invites us to consider the role of portraiture in constructing social identities and power relations. What can we learn about the sitter's social standing, cultural values, and the artist's own position within these hierarchies? To fully appreciate this work, one might explore period fashion and portraiture, the history of printmaking, and the social and political context of Hollar's career. Art history reminds us that art is always contingent on its context.