The City Tonsor 1771

Matthew Darly's etching, "The City Tonsor," created around 1771, depicts a barber, but look closer at the tools of his trade. Here, wigs take on a life of their own, almost as grotesque caricatures. The wig on the right, dangling with tied 'legs,' echoes the imagery of sacrificial animals, a motif stretching back to ancient rituals. Consider the 'Tree of Life' imagery, a common theme in mythology: Darly has twisted the concept by positioning wigs at the ends of the branches, creating a satire of vitality turned to vanity. These symbols tap into our collective anxieties about appearance, age, and social status, resonating deeply within the subconscious. The image's unsettling nature reminds us of the cyclical dance between life and artifice, forever entwined throughout history.