Mercatoris Belgae Eiusque Coniugis Vestitus, from Fashions of Different Nations 1580 - 1634

Pieter de Jode the First created this print, "Mercatoris Belgae Eiusque Coniugis Vestitus, from Fashions of Different Nations," using the intaglio technique. This process involves incising lines into a metal plate, applying ink, and then using a press to transfer the image onto paper. The detailed rendering of textiles is particularly compelling. Look closely, and you’ll notice how the artist employed fine, closely spaced lines to create the rich texture of the merchant's cloak and his wife's gown. The ruffs are especially intriguing. These were made of delicate linen, starched and painstakingly pleated. Garments like these signified wealth and status in the booming mercantile culture of the 17th century, where fashion itself became a commodity, and the skilled labor required to produce these garments was part of a complex economic web. This print reminds us that even seemingly simple images can offer insights into the material culture of their time, blurring the lines between fashion, art, and the social realities of production.