Copy of La Dame a la Grande Collerette et a la Coiffe Retombant en Arrière (The Lady with the Large Collar and a Headdress that Falls to the Back), from La Noblesse (The Nobility) 1625 - 1700

This small sheet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art depicts a noble lady and is executed in ink on paper. Anonymous in origin, the print fascinates through its manipulation of line and form. Notice how the artist uses dense, parallel lines to create volume and texture, particularly in the lady’s elaborate collar and sleeves. These structured lines not only define the shape of her garments but also convey a sense of opulence and rigidity, reflecting the social constraints of her class. The semiotic interplay here is intriguing. The lady’s attire, rendered with meticulous detail, functions as a signifier of her status. Yet, the anonymous nature of the artist invites us to question the values and power structures inherent in such displays of nobility. The print destabilizes conventional meanings of representation, prompting us to consider how fashion and social identity are constructed through visual codes.