M.C. Escher | METAMORPHOSIS II (1940)

Except from the compilation of letters written by merchant and explorer Emilliona Germana during her visit of the Little Peninsula:

(...) One would expect to find monarchs such as these in the throes of conspiracy against each other. In truth their Majesties are rather like two mummers delivering variations of their domestic Comedy, and if morning sees them donning their irate masks, evening finds them dining in perfect harmony. (...) Indeed when the news went around that the king would be visiting the border to oversee (...) the unease between the royal couple was most obvious (...) his Majesty might have seemed anxious to leave the seat of power entirely in his rival’s hands, yet I was later informed — do not ask by which means — that indeed the queen had commissioned Ignazia de Triova— our very own Ignazia! Who has found good sport in this court as small as her ambitions — to produce an intricate yet diminutive set of pieces reproducing — her Majesty’s wardrobe! So that her husband the king might amuse himself not just by keeping a likeness of her like so many lovers are wont, but also by dressing and undressing her at will — ribaldry fit for common lovers, unthinkable in a king, let alone in one so terribly offended by the spouse he later acquired in revenge. It is for that reason that I suspect this to be mere gossip — and yet I have from indisputable sources that Ignazia de Triova’s studio is littered with drawings of dresses (...)

I've just realized I never shared my entry for last year's Hamiathes Gift Exchange! I gifted this to SpaceJackalope, who asked for fashion headcanons. I wish I had had more time to work on it and polish it more, but now that some time has passed, I find I do like this a lot. I should have a print-and-cut friendly version.. maybe another time!