Mulier Generosa Italica 

Wenceslaus Hollar created this engraving, "Mulier Generosa Italica," that's Latin for "Italian Gentlewoman," sometime in the 17th century. The print showcases the fashion of the Italian upper class. Hollar's image offers a glimpse into the visual codes of status and identity operating across Europe at the time. Italy during this period was a mosaic of city-states, each with its own court and culture. The fashions worn by the elite became a way to signal allegiance, wealth, and refinement. Sumptuary laws regulated what different social classes could wear, making clothing a visual marker of social standing. This etching is not just a depiction of a woman, but a document reflecting the complex social structures of the time. By studying engravings like this, alongside other historical sources like letters, inventories, and legal documents, we can reconstruct a richer understanding of the role that images and visual culture played in shaping social identities.