Woman, Profile, Facing Left, with her Hands in a Muff c. 1624

Editor: This is Jacques Callot’s etching, "Woman, Profile, Facing Left, with her Hands in a Muff." The detail is striking, even in the background figures. What draws your eye in this image? Curator: The muff, surprisingly. Notice how it conceals the hands, suggesting both warmth and perhaps, a degree of social detachment. Fur, historically, has been a symbol of status but also of animalistic nature. Consider how the rigid lines of the dress contrast with the softness of the muff and feathered collar, a tension speaking to societal expectations versus individual expression. Does that resonate with you? Editor: It does. The muff is a barrier and a luxury item. Thanks, I hadn't considered the contrast. Curator: Precisely. The artist seems to be questioning what those symbols truly communicate. I’ve learned a lot too.