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| 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.
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| Wenceslaus Hollar Woman wearing houpette 1635 etching British Museum |
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| Wenceslaus Hollar Woman wearing houpette 1635 etching British Museum |
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| Wenceslaus Hollar Woman wearing houpette 1643 etching British Museum |
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| Wenceslaus Hollar Woman wearing houpette 1650 etching British Museum |
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| Wenceslaus Hollar Woman wearing houpette ca. 1627-36 etching British Museum |
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| 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.
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| Adriaen van de Venne Musical party 17th century oil in grisaille on panel private collection |
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| Wenceslaus Hollar Woman with veiled face 1639 etching British Museum |
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| Wenceslaus Hollar Woman with dark cloak, muff, fan, hood & mask 1639 etching British Museum |
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| Wenceslaus Hollar Woman in profile wearing 'millstone' ruff 1645 etching British Museum |
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| Wenceslaus Hollar Young woman with scallop-trimmed collar and veil 1648 etching British Museum |
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| Wenceslaus Hollar Studies of Muffs 1645-46 British Museum |
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| Wenceslaus Hollar Dead mole 1646 etching British Museum |
I am grateful to the British Museum for the excellent reproductions.