Elegantia, of tijdschrift van mode, luxe en smaak voor dames, Juni 1808, No. 49: Capote de Taffetas,... 1808

This is an image from Elegantia, a Dutch fashion magazine, dating back to June 1808. It presents a woman, her back turned to us, in an elegant, high-waisted white dress, complemented by a green bonnet, ribbon, and gloves. At the turn of the 19th century, fashion was a language of status and identity in Europe. Garments like these were tools for women to navigate social circles. As an item marketed to upper-class women, the magazine captures the prevailing styles but also echoes the political and social upheavals of the Napoleonic era, subtly reflecting aspirations of elegance and taste amidst broader societal changes. The image is more than a depiction of clothing; it is a window into the nuanced gender and class dynamics of its time, quietly telling tales of privilege and the performance of femininity.