Klederdrachten van eiland Gozo 1778

Louis Ducros created this watercolor titled "Klederdrachten van eiland Gozo" which shows the traditional costumes of Gozo. The most prominent visual symbols are the various styles of dress, each telling a story of identity, status, and regional belonging. Consider the parasol, held aloft as a shield against the sun. The parasol's story stretches back through the ages, seen in ancient Persia and imperial China, as a symbol of power and divine right. Here, it speaks of more everyday concerns: the need to protect oneself from the harsh Mediterranean sun. Yet, its presence also hints at a certain status, suggesting a degree of refinement. These costumes, like the parasol, are not merely functional garments but carriers of cultural memory. They evoke a sense of place, history, and collective identity. They speak to the enduring human need to express ourselves through symbols. Through these we connect with others, with our histories, and with something larger than ourselves. They are, in a sense, the visible manifestations of our shared past and present.