Woman's head framed in roundel

Here, a woman wears needle lace over her shoulders.

Her striking, fluffy headwear, called a houpette, was seen in cities such as Cologne in Germany and Antwerp in Flanders (Belgium). It was perhaps a forerunner of the fascinators seen at today’s more stylish weddings and horse-racing events.

Wenceslaus Hollar was clearly interested in fashion – his etchings abound with sensitive and descriptive depictions of the day’s styles.