Morning & Evening Costume for July 1817 1817

This print from July 1817 presents us with the "Morning & Evening Costume." The hats worn by these figures carry more than mere fashion; they are symbols of social identity and temporal demarcation. The large ribbons atop the hat of the standing figure evoke similar floral and vegetal motifs seen in Renaissance paintings, specifically Primavera by Botticelli, which symbolize fertility and the cyclical nature of life. This motif reappears in the elaborate feather headdress of the sitting figure, reminiscent of ancient headdresses worn in Egyptian royal ceremonies. Over time, feathers have been associated with the divine, with power, and with the ethereal. It also subtly hints at the expectations and roles ascribed to women, bound by the strictures of time and social appearance. In our collective memory, these adornments tap into deep-seated notions of status, beauty, and the performance of social roles, reflecting our perpetual dance between individuality and conformity.