Elegantia, of tijdschrift van mode, luxe en smaak voor dames, September 1807, No. 21: Chapeau ornée d'une Plume folette... 1807

This is plate 21 from 'Elegantia, of tijdschrift van mode, luxe en smaak voor dames' published in September 1807, created by an anonymous artist. The print presents a full-length portrait of a woman, emphasizing the design of a hat adorned with a feather. Observe how the artist uses line and form to define the figure within a strict, rectangular frame. The delicate, pale watercolors enhance the texture of the fabrics, carefully rendering the era's fashionable silhouette. Compositionally, the figure is centered, drawing the eye to the details of her attire, particularly the hat, which functions as a focal point. The print engages with the semiotic language of fashion, where clothing acts as a signifier of social status and taste. The detailed rendering challenges fixed notions by inviting viewers to consider the constructed nature of identity through material culture. It also raises questions about the interplay between art and commerce. The artwork is a window into the ephemeral world of early 19th-century fashion.