Journal des Luxus und der Moden 1788, Band III, T.16 1788

This is a page from Friedrich Justin Bertuch's Journal des Luxus und der Moden, dating back to 1788. The artwork is an engraving that uses line and delicate colour washes to depict two women's fashion profiles, focusing particularly on the extravagant hats of the era. Visually, the composition is neatly divided, each woman framed within her own rectangular space. The intricate linework emphasizes the texture and volume of the hats, creating a sense of depth despite the print's flatness. We see lace, feathers, and ribbons rendered with meticulous detail, elements that speak to the period's obsession with ornamentation and status. The visual structure here isn't just about fashion; it's about constructing an image of social identity through material objects. The hats, towering above the figures, dominate the composition, overshadowing the wearers' faces and suggesting a symbolic relationship between adornment and self-representation. The journal was a critical source of information for consumers, so the details are carefully chosen to encourage desire. These images remind us that fashion, like art, operates within systems of signs and cultural codes, constantly negotiating meanings and values.