Ladies magazine, febr. 1803 1803

Henry Mutlow made this print in 1803, published in a ladies' magazine. It would have been made using a copper plate engraving, where an image is incised into a metal plate, inked, and then printed onto paper. Consider how the engraving process influences the appearance of the image, its fine lines and delicate details allowing for intricate patterns on the dress. The process also speaks to a wider context: the print was made to illustrate fashionable clothing, a burgeoning industry at this time. These kinds of magazines helped to promote a culture of consumption, with new styles being circulated to encourage women to buy the latest trends, whether from local dressmakers, or ordered through mail from pattern books and fashion plates. This print is an example of how new technologies like engraving were used to spread ideas about style and status. The labor that went into producing these images was significant, even as it might seem worlds away from ‘high art.’