Habillemens de Leipzig. 1785-1786: twee staande mannen 1785 - 1786

Ernst Ludwig Riepenhausen made this print, Habillemens de Leipzig, in Germany around 1785. It depicts two men standing, highlighting the fashions of Leipzig at the time. The image offers a snapshot of social hierarchy through clothing. The man on the left, with his sword and fashionable hat, displays the attire of the upper class. The man on the right, relying on a cane, is dressed in more practical, perhaps older-fashioned clothing. This was a time of strict social codes, and clothing was a key signifier of status. As historians, we examine such visual records alongside other sources – fashion plates, social commentaries, and economic data. These resources help us understand how clothing reflected and reinforced social structures in 18th-century Germany, a society on the cusp of significant political and economic change. This image, therefore, is not just about fashion; it's a document reflecting the complex interplay of status, identity, and social norms.