Figures à la Mode 1670 - 1685

Curator: Here we have “Figures à la Mode,” a print made between 1670 and 1685 by Romeyn de Hooghe, on display here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It has a somber tone despite depicting a fashionable figure. The line work, while meticulous, seems to cast a veil of seriousness over the scene. Curator: Indeed. De Hooghe masterfully uses line to portray the clothing and accoutrements of status, but also societal expectations placed on this man. Notice how his figure is almost inseparable from the printed title beside him; his identity is fused to it. Editor: Precisely, the composition feels constructed, deliberately showcasing the details: the expansive coat, the full wig. Look at the relationship between foreground and background. Figures at rest near the trees balance out the picture of him, upright with the formal house reflection. It is so artificial. Curator: Absolutely. He presents himself as a man of fashion and cultivation, yet in that smaller artwork included, there's a quiet acknowledgement of artifice. He carries a palette in one hand and a broad-brimmed hat in another. It also indicates performance – a societal role played on the grand stage of public life. Editor: The contrast between the careful portraiture and the fleeting landscape interests me as well. Is de Hooghe attempting a discourse on the eternal and the temporal? Curator: It's a fascinating point. The landscape grounds him and serves as a testament to enduring beauty beyond fleeting trends. De Hooghe points us to broader cycles of change. Perhaps the figures relaxing by the river aren't paying attention to what the Figure à la Mode has on? Editor: A pointed reminder of the relationship between an elite image, and an implicit critique. So carefully designed as a visual structure but hinting to cultural cycles. Curator: It adds layers to our understanding, wouldn't you say? Thanks to its carefully constructed visual presentation and social critique. Editor: Indeed. A fine example of how thoughtful line work, placement, and symbolic gesture unite into a compelling piece.