Elegante dame met veren waaier 1619 - 1623

Adriaen Matham created this engraving, *Elegante dame met veren waaier*, sometime in the 17th century. The crisp lines and calculated compositions are characteristic of the period. A standing woman dominates the pictorial space. Her ornate dress and accessories suggest status, yet the setting, with its blend of natural and constructed environments, complicates a simple reading of social standing. The artist presents us with a wealth of information, carefully encoded in visual form. Consider the symmetry, balanced by subtle asymmetries such as the placement of the bird in the lower left. We might analyze the image as a structured composition of signs that communicate complex cultural ideas. How does the work challenge fixed notions? Notice again the precise detailing of the fabric. It's a testament to Matham's technical skill. But it also suggests the ways in which art can function as a mirror reflecting, but also refracting, the values of its time.