Waggoners Frocks or No Bodys of 1795 1795

This hand-colored etching, "Waggoners Frocks or No Bodys of 1795," was created anonymously, and its fine lines are characteristic of the printmaking processes of the time. Look closely, and you can see how the clothing's material influences its appearance. Fabric drapes, gathers, and conforms, suggesting the inherent qualities of substance, texture, and weight. The artist's choices – the puffed sleeves, the voluminous skirts, and the towering headwear – imply considerable work in the production process, drawing on skilled traditions of tailoring and millinery. Consider the social significance of these garments; the labor involved in their creation, and the implied wealth of the wearers. The artist seems to be commenting on consumption and excess, as the title seems to suggest, and challenging the traditional distinctions between necessity and luxury. This print reminds us that understanding an artwork fully requires us to consider its materials, making, and context.