Nieuwe kleèren 1876 - 1890

This is an undated print titled "Nieuwe kleèren" by an artist named Michelet. It is a lithograph, meaning it was produced using a flat stone or metal plate. The print satirizes the culture of status and display in 19th-century European society. The title means "new clothes" in Dutch. The cartoon narrative shows that the family is first seen dining together. However, as the day turns into night, the scene shifts to them selecting the finest clothes to impress visitors. The new clothes, initially a source of pride, ultimately lead to their imprisonment, suggesting the empty pursuit of superficial status. Prints like this were disseminated in newspapers and journals, commenting on the social structures of their time. To further our understanding, resources like period newspapers, fashion magazines, and social commentaries would offer insights into the cultural values critiqued in this image.