Franse hofdame die het edict van 1633 navolgt 1633

Abraham Bosse created this engraving, “French Court Lady Following the Edict of 1633,” addressing evolving fashion norms in 17th-century France. Bosse, as a printmaker and draughtsman, captured the nuances of social identity, and this work provides insight into the intersections of class, gender, and power. The print portrays a woman in a modest dress, adhering to the 1633 edict which sought to curb excessive luxury in attire. Courtly fashion was integral to expressing social identity and class distinction. However, it also became a site of negotiation and control by the state. Fashion and identity were deeply entwined, where clothing acted as a visual signifier of one's position within the social hierarchy, while sumptuary laws attempted to regulate these expressions to reinforce class boundaries. Bosse presents a woman navigating these restrictions and reveals how fashion could be both a tool for self-expression and a reflection of societal expectations and controls.