Anconitana 1598

Christoph Krieger made this engraving, titled 'Anconitana', as an illustration for a book. The image depicts a woman from Ancona, Italy, wearing a traditional veil or cloak. Such costume books were produced throughout Europe, and they documented regional dress, often exoticizing local customs. This print uses visual codes to create meaning. The heavy veil suggests modesty, while the patterned fabric hints at wealth. It's easy to forget that fashion serves as a marker of identity and social status. The book itself also has an institutional history. Consider the resources and expertise required to produce and distribute printed material in early modern Europe. Who had access to these images and what kinds of social hierarchies did they reinforce? By studying fashion plates, travel accounts, and other historical sources, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the complex social and cultural forces that shaped early modern society.