The Fashions of London & Paris 1798 - 1810

This hand-colored engraving, *The Fashions of London & Paris,* was made by Richard Philips in the late 1700s, and is composed of paper, ink, and watercolor. Printed fashion plates like this one were instrumental in disseminating style trends across Europe. The engraver painstakingly etched the designs into a metal plate, which was then inked and printed onto paper. Finally, artisans would carefully apply watercolors to bring the image to life. These images documented the latest styles, but also fueled the fashion industry. They created demand for specific textiles, trims, and silhouettes, all of which were produced by skilled laborers. In this way, what may seem like a simple image is actually a document of material culture, revealing much about the economic and social context of the time. By examining it closely, we can see how fashion was both an art form and an industry, shaped by the hands of many makers.