Hidden Canon I.1

Today we look at historical portraits and no longer know the contexts in which they were created.

This fact sometimes prevents a critical view or interpretation. From today's point of view, women were too often depicted only as decorative figures.

It was a wealthy woman's duty was to display her social status publicly. She was to wear whatever fabrics, jewelry, hairstyles, or other ornamentation necessary to represent the wealth and social standing of her family.

Of course, a woman's social position was far below that of her male counterpart, which many older portraits illustrate. I caricature this by over-decorating women: here the lady disappears in the excessive flowers and the precious lace.