Plate Two from The Supreme Current Fashion c. 1805

Pierre Nolasque Bergeret created Plate Two from The Supreme Current Fashion, using etching and aquatint. Bergeret lived through a tumultuous period in French history, including the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era; these events deeply influenced his artistic style. The print depicts three figures engaged in what appears to be a transaction. A woman tugs on a man's coat, while another man looks on. The clothing is rendered with careful attention to detail, highlighting the textures and patterns of the fabrics. It invites us to consider the social dynamics at play, particularly the roles of gender, class, and economic exchange. Is it a satire? A commentary on consumer culture? The scene may also be reflecting the social disruptions of the time, where traditional hierarchies were being questioned, and new forms of social interaction were emerging. Fashion becomes a stage upon which social roles are negotiated, and individual identities are performed.