Portrait of Katharina von Holzhausen, née Breder von Hohenstein 1523

This is a portrait of Katharina von Holzhausen, painted by Hans Abel the Younger, sometime in the 16th century. Abel used oil paint, a relatively new medium at the time, which allowed for the exquisite detailing you see here. Katharina’s status is immediately obvious from her clothing: a fur-lined coat, gold rings, and an elaborately pleated linen headdress. The sumptuary laws of the time dictated who could wear what, but it’s also clear that these garments are skillfully made. Her headdress is made from fine linen, a costly fabric whose creation required specialized tools and skills, from flax cultivation to spinning and weaving. And just look at the complexity of the pleating! This wasn't just a matter of taste; it was a display of wealth and meticulous labor. Abel’s portrait captures not only Katharina's likeness but also the material culture that defined her world, reminding us that even a simple portrait can reveal so much about the labor, status, and social values of its time.