Marie Antoinette: The Queen of Fashion: Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Français 1787

This print of Marie Antoinette was made by Nicolas Dupin, part of a series illustrating French fashion. Look closely at the details rendered by the printmaking process. This wasn't just about capturing an image; it was about dissecting the anatomy of elite style. Consider the fabrics depicted: silks, furs, and lace. These materials speak volumes about labor and class. The silk, likely from China, signals global trade networks built on colonial exploitation. The lace involved countless hours of skilled handwork, often by women in precarious economic situations. And the fur? A blatant display of luxury, obtained at the expense of animal life. Dupin's print isn't just a pretty picture. It's a document of power, privilege, and the complex web of making that sustained it. It reminds us that even fashion has a material history rooted in social realities.