Kleding voor dames 1781

Curator: Here we have Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki’s print, “Kleding voor dames,” from 1781, residing here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Well, my immediate reaction is the exquisite detail considering it is only an engraving! I notice the fine lines in the fabrics and the intricate hairstyles – almost seems like lace crafted from metal. Curator: Absolutely, and the very title "Clothing for Ladies" immediately raises questions. Who were these images for? Consider the rising middle class and their increasing consumption of fashion as a marker of social status. Editor: It's interesting you say that. I'm wondering about the printing process itself – the copper plate, the labor involved, how these images were distributed and consumed. Were these luxury items themselves, or were they mass-produced to disseminate these styles broadly? The social life of engravings as carriers of cultural codes. Curator: Exactly! This image speaks to the power of the Rococo style in late 18th-century Europe. A clear desire to display the elegance that courtly fashion imposed on the body and life of upper-class women. Also, look how women were perceived; they're displayed for public consumption. Editor: And not just displayed but codified – each outfit even comes with its function; whether walking or riding a horse! Think about the layers of craftwork within that singular hat and what material, labor and global economy makes its appearance possible. It opens a world, a world that speaks to both women and makers of objects. Curator: It does! But to circle back to Chodowiecki’s role within this system. As an artist, his style reflects the social currents of the time but how much was he consciously aware and commenting on it, versus simply reflecting the aesthetic norms of his environment. Editor: That is what makes this such a compelling document. It's beautiful. To study art with a knowledge of how materials circulate helps you see the social context of making as deeply embedded in an artwork. Curator: Precisely. Examining "Clothing for Ladies" we not only glimpse a world of fashion, but a complex network of production, distribution, and societal values reflected and reinforced through images.