Elegantia, of tijdschrift van mode, luxe en smaak voor dames, Maart 1807, No. 7: Réseau et Fichu de Laine 1807

This fashion plate, printed in March 1807, shows a woman wearing a 'Réseau et Fichu de Laine,' or a net and wool shawl. We don't know who designed it. The print was made using etching and hand-colouring, common reproductive techniques at the time. The significance of this image lies not only in its depiction of fashionable attire, but also in the labour and materials involved. Wool production was a major industry, and the shawl, likely knitted or crocheted, represents hours of skilled handwork. Consider also the cotton for the dress, probably imported. The delicate lines and subtle colours belie the complex economic forces at play, linking rural textile production to urban consumption. Fashion plates like these fueled desire, driving demand for textiles and the labour needed to produce them. Recognizing the interconnectedness of materials, making, and social context is key to understanding its full meaning.