Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Français, 1785, nr. 13, nr. 26, Kopie naar K 58 : Acteur Bourgeois (...) c. 1785

Pierre Gleich created this print, "Galerie des Modes et Costumes Français," in 1785 as part of a series documenting French fashion. The print depicts a bourgeois actor studying his costume for a promenade. Made in France during the late 18th century, this image offers insight into the social and cultural values of the time. The detailed rendering of clothing and accessories reflects the era's emphasis on luxury and status. Fashion was a language, and publications like the "Galerie des Modes" helped to codify and disseminate its vocabulary. The image’s title, including the word “bourgeois”, suggests the rising social status of the merchant class and its growing influence on cultural norms, including theatre and fashion. Historians examine such visual materials alongside other sources – periodicals, playbills, financial records – to understand the complex interplay between art, commerce, and social identity. Artworks like this reflect and shape the world they inhabit; they are not simply aesthetic objects but active participants in social life.