Two Costume Designs or Portrait Types 1785 - 1790

Editor: This is "Two Costume Designs or Portrait Types," an anonymous mixed media work from around 1785 to 1790. The materials—watercolor, colored pencil—give it such a delicate feel, almost ephemeral. The elaborate costumes are so striking. What’s your interpretation of it? Curator: Looking at these costume designs, I see a powerful reflection of the intense labor and material consumption driving Rococo fashion. The watercolors and colored pencil are themselves commodities, of course. But, more importantly, think about the sheer volume of materials – fabrics, feathers, dyes – necessary to create such elaborate looks. The application and maintenance of this image had great materiality. Consider the hands involved: the dressmakers, the milliners, even the artists creating these designs, all part of a vast network of production. The designs dictate the form of future works with their inherent cost. Editor: That's fascinating! It really shifts my perspective. So, rather than just seeing these as beautiful portraits, we should consider the socioeconomic systems they represent? Curator: Exactly. These images offer a glimpse into the intense production and consumption underpinning aristocratic culture. The very creation and consumption of these commodities were inherently driven by power and place. Look at the inscription; consider the process, not just the presentation, and question what these materials communicate. What message does this reveal about societal norms? Editor: That’s a brilliant approach! I hadn't considered the materials as being such active agents in understanding the artwork's context. Thank you for illuminating this complex piece! Curator: It’s a rewarding shift in perspective, isn’t it? Seeing the hand, not just the image.