The dresses, sometimes dating back to up to two centuries, vary little from each other; it is the coiffe that is the real central element of the picture.
The Breton coiffe was originally meant to both protect women’s heads against the vagaries of the weather and cover their hair, as recommended by religion. Made with delicate fabric and sophisticated lace, it has evolved along the centuries and took many forms, until it eventually indicated the geographical origin or social status of women.
In this series, Charles Fréger gives the photographic scenes great importance and signification: each one depicts an activity, or part of the Breton life related to the headdress that is photographed. Staged, it is an act in its own, a theatrical performance inspired by Breton postcards and Nabi paintings. Using a silk screen between the model and the photo scene, Fréger created a soft, blurred background that evokes the 20th century Brittany, while telling us of the history of the coiffe. The result is a delicate composition that reflects and highlights the headdresses’ fragile outline.
In pictures taken between 2011 and 2014, the series presents a total of 53 different coiffes.