Thursday, October 13, 2016

Curiosities recorded by Wenceslaus Hollar

Wenceslaus Hollar
Self-portrait, age 40
1647
etching
British Museum

As early as the 1620s and as late as the 1650s, printmaker Wenceslaus Hollar made fashion plates featuring a dark projecting structure anchored to a woman's forehead. An attached veil extended behind, covering much of the hair but leaving locks on the sides exposed. This useful and beautiful object was called an houpette.

Wenceslaus Hollar
Woman wearing houpette
1635
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Woman wearing houpette
1635
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Woman wearing houpette
1643
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Woman wearing houpette
1650
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Woman wearing houpette
ca. 1627-36
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Woman wearing houpette
1643
etching
British Museum

Below is a composition in grisaille by Adiaen van de Venne (1589-1662) depicting a Dutch interior filled with elegant company. Seated at right and facing the viewer, a young mother displays on top of her head the now-familiar skullcap-and-spike of the houpette, with attached veil billowing behind.

Adriaen van de Venne
Musical party
17th century
oil in grisaille on panel
private collection

Wenceslaus Hollar
Woman with veiled face 
1639
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Woman with dark cloak, muff, fan, hood & mask
1639
etching
British Museum 

Wenceslaus Hollar
Woman in profile wearing 'millstone' ruff
1645
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Young woman with scallop-trimmed collar and veil
1648
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Studies of Muffs
1645-46
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Dead mole
1646
etching
British Museum

I am grateful to the British Museum for the excellent reproductions.