Sketches for Details of a Dress and Other Accessories 1785 - 1790

This sheet of sketches for dress details and other accessories was made by an anonymous artist at an unknown date. Its presence in the Met’s collection raises questions about the social and cultural context that informed its creation, and how institutions shape the production and reception of art. The image creates meaning through visual codes tied to the social structures of its time. We can ask if it is self-consciously conservative or progressive. Was the artist critiquing the institutions of art through their drawings? How might these sketches comment on the social norms of their time? By researching fashion history, social customs, and economic structures, we can better understand the intent of this artwork. Its meaning is contingent on its social and institutional context.