Kabinet van Mode en Smaak, ca. 1794, Nr. 7 (VII) c. 1794

This fashion plate, made around 1794, showcases the height of late 18th-century fashion through an unnamed artist's eyes. Note the extravagant use of feathers adorning the woman's head, a motif that stretches back through history. Feathers, symbols of lightness and elevation, have graced humanity since ancient times, from the headdresses of indigenous shamans to the winged helmets of classical gods. Their presence here, however, speaks to a more recent aspiration: the aristocratic longing for transcendence amidst societal change. The layered meaning of feathers shifts through history, reappearing in new guises, reflecting the collective subconscious anxieties and aspirations of different eras. The flamboyant plumage worn during the French Revolution, for example, might signify not just status but also a fleeting, desperate attempt to reach for the heavens as the old order crumbled. The emotional resonance of such displays engages us still, reminding us of the cyclical nature of human striving and the perennial quest for meaning.