Social Status
How important or respected a person is in their community.
What is it?
Social status is about a person's rank in society. In the past, rich people showed their status by owning fancy things like big houses, expensive clothes, and beautiful yachts. The model of the Dutch yacht you saw was a status symbol. Only wealthy merchants and officials could afford such a yacht. The ship's decorations showed the owner's good taste and high position. Portraits also showed social status. In van Dyck's portrait of a man with a wide-brimmed hat, the man's fine clothes and confident pose tell you he was important and wealthy. Still life paintings like the one by Osias Beert the Elder also show social status: the oysters, wine, and exotic fruits were expensive luxuries that only rich people could enjoy. Displaying such food in a painting was a way to show off wealth and sophistication.
Why it matters
Social status affects how people live and what they can do. Art and objects often tell us about a person's status. Understanding status helps us understand history and society.
Where you've seen it
This list grows as you capture more objects that show social status.
Related
社会地位
一个人在其社区中的重要程度或受尊敬程度。
这是什么？
社会地位是指一个人在社会中的等级。在过去，富人通过拥有豪华的东西来显示自己的地位，比如大房子、昂贵的衣服和漂亮的游艇。你看到的荷兰游艇模型就是一个地位象征。只有富有的商人和官员才能买得起这样的游艇。船上的装饰显示了主人的品味和高地位。肖像画也显示社会地位。在范·戴克画的戴宽檐帽男子的肖像中，男子精美的衣服和自信的姿态告诉你他很重要且富有。像老奥西阿斯·贝尔特画的静物画也显示社会地位：牡蛎、葡萄酒和异国水果是只有富人才能享受的昂贵奢侈品。在画中展示这样的食物是一种炫耀财富和品味的方式。
为什么重要
社会地位影响人们的生活方式和能力。艺术和物品常常告诉我们一个人的地位。理解地位有助于我们理解历史和社会。
你在哪里见过
当你捕捉更多显示社会地位的物品时，这个列表会增长。
