Vrouw met stijve kanten kraag 1645

Wenceslaus Hollar made this etching of a woman with a stiff lace collar in 1645. The portrait bust, framed by a circle, displays the subject's elaborate collar in minute detail, signaling status and wealth. The artwork was produced in the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by unprecedented economic growth and global trade. As Dutch merchants amassed fortunes, they commissioned art that reflected their prosperity and social standing. Hollar, a Bohemian engraver active in the Netherlands and England, was known for his precise and detailed depictions of costumes. The image creates meaning through the visual codes of dress, reflecting the cultural values of wealth and status in Dutch society. Analyzing works such as this one involves researching historical records, costume history, and the socio-economic conditions of the time. Through this research, we gain insight into the social structures and cultural values that shaped artistic production in the Dutch Golden Age.