Le nouvelle figure a la mode de ce temps. c. 1660

This engraving by Jan van Troyen, made around 1660, presents a fashionable couple in what was then modern dress. It invites us to consider the social performance of identity and status in the Dutch Golden Age. Looking closely, we see that the image creates meaning through the visual codes of clothing and posture. The elaborate outfits, the gentleman's confident stance, and the lady's demure pose speak volumes about their social class and aspirations. The natural background, with a glimpse of a mounted rider in the distance, might allude to wealth and leisure. It's also interesting to note the role of the publisher, Hugo Allardt, in bringing this image to a wider audience, shaping and reinforcing contemporary ideals of beauty and refinement. To fully understand this work, we can delve into archival sources such as fashion plates, etiquette manuals, and social histories to reconstruct the cultural context in which it was made and consumed. By doing so, we can begin to appreciate the complex interplay between art, society, and the construction of identity in the 17th century Netherlands.