Portret van Louise Danse 1895

This is Auguste Danse's delicate portrait of Louise, rendered in soft strokes, capturing her in profile. The arrangement of her hair, swept upwards into a loose updo, immediately evokes a sense of classical antiquity. Consider the hairstyles of ancient Greek sculptures, where similar arrangements signified grace and nobility. This seemingly simple choice echoes through centuries. It reminds me of Botticelli's Venus, reborn from the sea with hair arranged in a similar fashion. The hairstyle has undergone transformations, serving diverse purposes. What was once a symbol of classical virtue has reappeared through history, adapted to changing ideals of beauty and status. Yet, traces of its origin linger, engaging our subconscious with a sense of timeless beauty and the continuous thread of cultural memory that connects us to the past.