Journal des Luxus und der Moden 1786, Band I, T. 1 1786

Friedrich Justin Bertuch made this print in 1786 for the *Journal des Luxus und der Moden*, a German periodical covering luxury goods and fashion. The print is an etching, with added color. This was a reproductive technology that allowed images to be made in large numbers, which aligns with its status as a fashion plate. Consider the materials depicted, such as the feathers on the hats, and the lace and fabric. All these materials are clearly expensive, and their skillful manipulation into fashionable forms communicates the wealth and status of the wearer. The journal was aimed at an elite readership who had the capital to participate in the circulation of luxury goods. The print celebrates the culture of consumption, but we might also think of the labor involved in producing the objects that it depicts. These images were meant to circulate widely, thus fueling the luxury economy in the late 18th century. It's a reminder that fashion, like all forms of material culture, is deeply embedded in social and economic systems.