The Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris will be retracing the history of hair in a wide-ranging exhibition on the theme.
The exhibition, titled “Des cheveux et des poils” [Hair & Hairs] explores issues related to hair through more than 600 artworks from the 15th century to the present day.
It shows how the arrangement or styling of human hair has contributed to the construction of appearances for centuries. Indeed, throughout the ages, hair has reflected the aspirations of an era or a civilisation.
The Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian cultures saw it as a sign of savagery and wildness that had to be tamed in order to distance man from animals. It is therefore not surprising that hair is rare, or even absent, from ancient paintings.
However, a turning point occurred around 1520, when the beard became a virile attribute that attested to the bravery of its wearer. It then became the prerogative of kings and nobles, until wigs were preferred in the 1630s.
Facial hair came back into favour at the beginning of the 19th century, and its multiple variations never went out of fashion.
For men, at least. Because, head and body hair are markers of social differences, especially for women. The first part of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs exhibition focuses on the evolution of women’s hairstyles.
The female body has been, at many times and in many places, associated with an absence of hair. The wearing of the veil was imposed from the Middle Ages, in accordance with the First Epistle to the Corinthians. Women gradually abandoned it in the 15th century in favour of extravagant hairstyles that were constantly changing. Some of them, like the so-called fontange, even became icons of fashion.
Indeed, “Des cheveux et des poils” shows how social norms around hair are constantly being updated and renewed. Sometimes even contradicting each other, like those surrounding pubic hair.
However, these evolving trends and conventions have given rise to a multitude of professions.
From barbers and barber-surgeons to hair stylists, wigmakers and ladies’ hairdressers, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs exhibition pays tribute to these hair professions through archive documents and various objects, including perming machines and dryers from the 1920s.
“Des cheveux et des poils” [Hair & Hairs] runs April 5 to September 17 at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France.