Journal des Luxus und der Moden 1786, Band I, T. 14 1786

This print by Friedrich Justin Bertuch, was published in Germany in 1786. The work’s title translates to "Journal of Luxury and Fashion," and it was made using engraving with hand coloring. Consider how essential the printmaking process is to this image. The sharp lines, the subtle gradations of color, and the textures all rely on the engraver's skill and the printer’s craft. Notice the precision in the depiction of the woman's fashionable attire, from the lace at her collar to the wide-brimmed hat. All this detail would have taken hours of skilled work. The journal itself was a luxury item, part of a growing fashion industry that employed thousands. The print’s success was dependent on the demand for luxury goods, which in turn was dependent on the labor of countless workers involved in textile production and garment making. By foregrounding the material processes behind the image and the wider social context, we can move beyond simply appreciating its aesthetic qualities, and understand the economic system that made it possible.