Dubbele plaat met acht vrouwen gekleed volgens de Franse mode, ca. 1580 1872 - 1875

This print, made around 1580 by an anonymous artist, presents eight women dressed in the latest French fashions. Produced using engraving techniques, the designs are etched into a metal plate, inked, and then printed onto paper, with color added later. The material reality of these clothes speaks volumes. Sumptuous fabrics such as silk and velvet, rendered in rich colors, display the immense labor required to produce them. Consider the skilled weavers, dyers, and tailors involved, not to mention the global trade networks that brought these materials to Europe. The print highlights not just the aesthetic of French fashion, but also the social and economic structures that supported it. Each woman's elaborate dress broadcasts her status, a visual representation of wealth and power. In this way, the print transcends mere documentation, becoming a commentary on the era’s values and the complex interplay between fashion, labor, and social class. It reminds us that even seemingly superficial objects like clothing are deeply intertwined with the material conditions of their creation.