Vier boeren gekleed volgens de huidige mode en één naar de oude mode, ca. 1580 1872 - 1875

This color etching, made around 1580 by an anonymous artist, presents a striking visual study of social identity through clothing. The composition is neatly divided into five figures arranged in a row, each differentiated by their attire. The artist uses costume as a visual language, where color and style function as signs. Observe how the contemporary figures display a flair for fashion, with puffed sleeves and bright colors, contrasted sharply by the archaic dress of the last figure, marked by his simpler lines and muted tones. The artist uses this contrast to suggest a world in transition, reflecting the shifting social and cultural landscape of the time. Consider how the visual elements here, such as line and color, challenge fixed meanings and engage with new ways of thinking about representation. Ultimately, this etching is not just about fashion, but about the semiotics of change and identity in the late 16th century.