Habillemens François, ca. 1778-1780: Twee vrouwen en drie mannen met wandelstok c. 1778 - 1780

This print by Rosmasler, titled "Habillemens François", was made around 1778-1780, at a time when fashion was an integral part of French identity and court culture. The figures here offer us a glimpse into the rigid class structures of pre-revolutionary France, where clothing was a marker of social status. Notice how the elaborate and impractical dresses worn by the women contrast sharply with the more functional attire of the men. Corsets, panniers, and towering hairstyles were used to create an artificial silhouette, literally constructing female identity according to the male gaze. These fashions weren’t just beautiful, they were political. Sumptuary laws dictated who could wear what, reinforcing social hierarchies and controlling economic power. But fashion could also be a form of resistance. The French court was a site of intense competition and intrigue, where individuals used clothing to express their individuality and challenge norms. This print captures a moment in time when fashion was both a tool of oppression and a means of self-expression.