Portret van Madame Copia after 1792

This is Gustave Mercier's portrait of Madame Copia, rendered with delicate precision. Note the bonnet, a seemingly simple head covering, yet laden with historical weight. The bonnet's evolution echoes across centuries, from the modest caps of medieval women to its later association with piety and domesticity in Dutch Golden Age paintings. Even in 18th-century France, similar headwear signified bourgeois virtue. Madame Copia's bonnet, however, transcends mere fashion, serving as a symbol of her identity and social standing. Think of how these symbols are not linear but cyclical, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts. Like a recurring dream, they engage us on a deep, subconscious level, reminding us of our collective past and its enduring influence.