Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Francais, 1778, H 47 : Cuisiniere nouvellement arrivée de Provinc (...). c. 1778

This print, made by Pierre Adrien Le Beau in 1778, depicts a cook freshly arrived from Provence. Note her striking headwear. This towering coiffure, fashionable yet impractical, is reminiscent of similar displays of excess seen in the headdresses of ancient Egypt or the elaborate wigs of the Baroque era. The towering height is not just about fashion, it is about status. Consider also the gesture of her hands, one holding a cloth, the other slightly open. The open hand—a symbol of offering or receiving. A motif that recurs across cultures and centuries. From the raised hands of praying figures in early Christian art to the welcoming gestures of classical sculptures. This simple, human gesture taps into our collective memory, evoking feelings of invitation. It is a potent reminder of how cultural symbols evolve, resurface, and are reinterpreted throughout history.