Journal des Luxus und der Moden 1786, Band I, T. 12 1786

This is Plate 12 from the first volume of Friedrich Justin Bertuch’s Journal des Luxus und der Moden, dating to 1786. It offers us a glimpse into the world of late 18th-century fashion and its role in shaping identities of class and gender. The journal was published in Germany during the Enlightenment, amid shifting social structures. The detailed engravings of fashionable attire weren't just about aesthetics; they reflected the era's obsession with status and self-presentation. The woman depicted here, adorned in elaborate fabrics and feathers, embodies the privileges afforded to the upper class. But let’s consider what isn't immediately visible: the labor and resources required to produce such finery, often at the expense of marginalized communities. It's a reminder that fashion, then as now, is deeply intertwined with economic and social power dynamics. How does this image make you reflect on the complexities of identity and representation in our own time?