Volkskleederdragten / De Nederlanden c. 1843 - 1920

Ernst Fröhlich’s monochromatic print, "Volkskleederdragten / De Nederlanden," captures Dutch regional costumes with a detailed eye. The composition is structured by six distinct groupings, each presenting figures dressed in traditional attire. The meticulous use of line and shading invites a semiotic reading of cultural codes through clothing. Each costume functions as a signifier of regional identity. Observe how Fröhlich destabilizes a monolithic idea of Dutch identity, instead offering a structural array of its diverse parts. The varying textures, achieved through hatching and cross-hatching, articulate the fabric's materiality. These are not simply images, but representations loaded with social and historical information. Ultimately, Fröhlich's print serves as a visual archive, reflecting the artist's engagement with themes of cultural preservation and regional distinction. The formal structure of the print—its arrangement and attention to detail—emphasizes the visual and social importance of these cultural markers.