Paar gekleed volgens de Milanese mode 1720 - 1772

This engraving of a couple dressed in Milanese fashion was made by an anonymous artist. Representations of fashion served an important function at a time when travel was uncommon, but trade in luxury goods was expanding. Milan, in particular, was well known for its production of armor as we can see here, with the male figure sporting a breastplate and sword. He also wears a feathered hat, underscoring the importance of spectacle, display, and status. The woman's dress, with its elaborate patterning, and the very fact of their being a couple signals a certain social class. Engravings like these played a crucial role in the culture of consumption, allowing people to envision themselves as part of a cosmopolitan world. It also demonstrates the emergence of fashion as a marker of regional and national identity. Further research into costume books, trade networks, and sumptuary laws would help us to better understand the social context of this image.