Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Français, nr. 28, kopie naar ee. 169(bis): Femme vetue d'un Levit (...) 1780 - 1785

This print, made in France, depicts a fashionable woman and two men. It circulated as part of a series, *Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Français*, which documented contemporary trends. The image presents itself as a straightforward record of clothing styles. However, the theatrical poses and exaggerated details suggest it also critiques the excesses of aristocratic fashion. The woman's elaborate hairstyle and the men's affected manners speak to a culture of courtly display. France's rigid social hierarchy and the opulence of its elite fueled growing resentment among the lower classes. The print’s publication occurred against a backdrop of economic inequality and political tension, and it subtly comments on this. To fully understand this image, a social historian could research fashion trends, class structures, and political debates of the period. Art like this becomes far more meaningful when understood in its historical context.