Small accessories that might get overlooked during a walk through the museum’s halls also get their moment in the sun. “In many paintings, rings are not just accessories—they’re symbols, markers of power, love, or remembrance,” they wrote on a carousel of close-up shots of rings in paintings. “From intricate designs to powerful symbols, rings have long been a way to carry stories and memories close.” And beyond the significance of jewelry, the museum takes time to highlight the artistry—the way a diaphanous lace collar sits atop a velvet dress, or a glint of light that a pearl earring catches.
The dedicated analysis helps solve mysteries we may never even consider. With the 1633 painting Young Woman in Fantasy Costume by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, the Rijksmuseum delves further into what the subject’s clothing can tell us about her—and by extension, the artist. “The young woman in the painting wears clothing that is not in keeping with the fashions of Rembrandt’s day, but rather reflects styles of earlier centuries,” they wrote. Her outdated style for the time helped indicate that she wasn’t a real person, but an imagined face.
Isabella, Simon Maris, c. 1906
Portrait of Hortense de Beauharnais, Anne-Louis Girodet-Trioson, c. 1805 – c. 1809
Johannes Wtenbogaert, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1633
Young Woman in Fantasy Costume, Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, 1633
The Dutch museum’s digital presence offers an unpretentious space for learning and an accessible way to interact with art. Not everyone may have the means to visit the Rijksmuseum, but a rich appreciation of fashion in art history is just a scroll away.
