Journal des Dames et des Modes, editie Frankfurt 18 avril 1808, Costume Parisien (16): Toque et Redingotte à la Polonaise 1808

This hand-coloured etching is by J. Neubauer, made in Frankfurt on April 18, 1808, and showcases Parisian fashion. The print's composition is structured by a delicate balance of colour and line. The soft blues of the 'Redingotte à la Polonaise' contrast with the white of the dress, each defined by precise etched lines that delineate the fabric's form and texture. The figure's gentle curve directs our gaze from the elaborate headwear down to the decorative border of the dress. The artwork presents a semiotic system of its own. The ‘Toque’ and ‘Redingotte’ are not merely garments, but signifiers of status, taste, and cultural identity in early 19th-century Paris. The print destabilizes fixed notions of fashion by engaging with Polish influences. This intermingling of styles challenges established sartorial norms, reflecting broader cultural dialogues of the time. Consider the etched line, it serves not only to depict but also to dissect the very essence of fashionable identity, opening it up to interpretation and reinvention.