Man en vrouw, gekleed volgens de mode van 1590-1600 before 1600

Editor: This engraving, titled "Man en vrouw, gekleed volgens de mode van 1590-1600", made before 1600 by Gillis van Breen, depicts a stylish couple. It’s amazing to think about how clothing like this was actually made. What’s your take on it? Curator: We should really consider the immense labor that went into these clothes! Think about the wool production, the weaving, the dyeing – and that amazing lace! Every single piece reflects intense production efforts. These are not just images; they're material records of consumption and craft labor. Editor: Absolutely, it shows such clear hierarchies. The clothing itself signals wealth, privilege and probably political standing. How conscious were artists, like Breen, of communicating these hierarchies? Curator: I’d argue they were extremely conscious. Consider the very act of engraving: a reproductive medium making fashion accessible, visually at least, to a broader audience. These prints weren’t neutral depictions, but active participants in constructing and reinforcing those class divisions through material display. We should question who these images are FOR. Editor: That's fascinating. It highlights the accessibility of fashion through engravings and its broader consumption. Looking at this engraving through that lens brings a whole new understanding of its function. Thanks. Curator: Precisely! It urges us to investigate beyond the image and dig into the socio-economic machinery driving its very existence. Hopefully, you will continue exploring artworks with a keen awareness of how material processes and class structure shape their creation and interpretation.