Achterzijde van een kapsel voor een uitknippop 1825 - 1875

This paper cut-out depicting the back of a hairstyle for a paper doll was made by an anonymous artist. Consider how even a simple doll’s hairstyle serves as a marker of identity and status. The elaborate ornamentation, complete with jewels and cascading curls, speaks volumes about the aspirations and lived experiences of women within a certain echelon of society. The hairstyle, though miniature, symbolizes the complex negotiations of femininity, wealth, and social expectations. Paper dolls and their accessories provided a canvas on which to project dreams and desires, or perhaps to critique the performative aspects of gender and class. This small paper artifact offers a glimpse into the emotional and cultural investments made in even the most ephemeral aspects of daily life.