Journal des Luxus und der Moden 1786, Band I, T. 16 1786

This is a page from Friedrich Justin Bertuch’s "Journal des Luxus und der Moden," published in 1786, using engraving, a printmaking process where lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Engraving was crucial for disseminating information, reflecting an expanding consumer culture and the rise of fashion as a social phenomenon. This page depicts furniture, probably intended for a well-appointed study. The adjustable desk and specialized chair suggest a growing emphasis on comfort and efficiency in work, but also leisure. The precision of the engraving, with its fine lines and careful rendering of detail, speaks to the skill of the artisan. The very concept of this design journal underscores the commodification of taste and the increasing desire for luxury goods among the rising middle class. We are reminded that even something as seemingly simple as furniture can embody complex social and economic forces.