The hairstyle

This type of hairstyle was worn by ladies of the bourgeoisie and nobility from around 1720 to 1760. Known as "little heads", they were highly powdered and, in some cases, very elaborate. The hair is pulled back, but still leaves volume around the skull.

Orange blossoms pricked into the hairstyle and white and red carnations mounted on brooches evoke sincere love and the purity of her feelings. Numerous pearls can be found not only on her finery, but also on her mantle. Sensual and luminous, they evoke femininity and softness. They create reflections, attesting to the fact that the light in the interior scene comes from the top left of the painting. The addition of these pearls allows us to vary the materials used, both in her hairstyle and in her clothing.