A Barbers-Shop in Assize Time-- from a Picture painted by H.W. Bunbury 15 - 1818

This print, based on a picture by H.W. Bunbury, depicts a bustling barbershop, a commonplace scene animated by the wigs that populate it. Observe these wigs, symbols of status and profession. From the grand, powdered perukes to the simpler styles, they speak of identity. These headpieces evolved from mere fashion to signifiers of authority, particularly in legal and official circles, a custom that persists even today. Across time, the wig has carried the weight of respectability, yet it also invites scrutiny—a mask of formality that may conceal more than it reveals. Consider the psychological weight of donning such a symbol. Does it truly transform the wearer, or merely cloak them in borrowed authority? These are the questions that linger, as this image reminds us of the complex interplay between appearance, identity, and the subconscious forces that shape our perceptions.