Journal des Luxus und der Moden 1790, Band V, T.28 1790

This fashion plate was printed for the Journal des Luxus und der Moden, or Journal of Luxury and Fashion, in Germany in 1790. These journals emerged at the end of the eighteenth century to track rapidly changing styles and to cater to a growing consumer culture. As we can see here, the image depicts an aristocratic woman with elaborate hair and dress, along with two hat designs. These fashion plates played a crucial role in shaping and disseminating visual culture. They reinforced class distinctions and gender roles while documenting how new consumer goods spread across Europe. The Journal des Luxus und der Moden was more than just a fashion magazine. It also aimed to shape public opinion on luxury goods. Was fashion frivolous and immoral, or was it a driver of economic growth and social progress? Understanding this artwork requires an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on art history, social history, and cultural studies. By examining sources such as fashion journals, we can better understand the complex relationship between art, commerce, and society.