Zwei junge Mädchen in Rokokogewandung c. 1873 - 1874

Wilhelm Busch rendered this pencil drawing, *Zwei junge Mädchen in Rokokogewandung,* or *Two Young Girls in Rococo Dress,* in the 19th century, capturing a nostalgic glimpse into the Rococo era. Busch lived in a time of rapid social change, where the traditional aristocratic class was slowly fading away. The drawing portrays two women adorned in elaborate Rococo gowns which represent the opulence and excess associated with the French aristocracy. It's hard not to notice the way they are dressed: the dresses are huge, impractical, almost theatrical. This might evoke feelings of nostalgia or perhaps even critique of the social structures that enabled such displays of wealth. How do these elaborate costumes reflect or distort the identities of these young women? Ultimately, Busch invites us to consider the role of representation in shaping our understanding of history, class, and personal identity. The drawing is infused with his personal reflections on the passage of time. How does the gaze of the present inform our understanding of the past?