Journal des Dames et des Modes, editie Frankfurt 30 octobre 1808, Costume Parisien (44) 1808

This print, made in Frankfurt in 1808 by Friedrich Ludwig Neubauer, is a fashion plate from the Journal des Dames et des Modes. It depicts two women in the high-waisted dresses then in vogue, rendered with delicate lines and subtle color washes on paper. The printmaking process itself – likely a combination of etching and engraving – speaks to the burgeoning world of commercial image production at the time. Consider the division of labor involved: from the skilled draftsperson who created the original design, to the engraver who meticulously translated it onto the plate, to the printer who produced numerous impressions for distribution. The fashion plate itself, as a multiple, played a crucial role in disseminating style trends, feeding a growing consumer culture. The very existence of this journal, and the labor involved in its production and distribution, reflect the increasing commodification of fashion and its impact on society. It’s a reminder that even seemingly frivolous images are deeply embedded in the economic realities of their time.