Elegantia, of tijdschrift van mode, luxe en smaak voor dames, Juli 1809, No. 83: Capote van perkale;... 1809

This is a fashion plate from the journal Elegantia, dating to July 1809. The anonymous artist pictures a woman from behind, clad in a light-colored dress and capote. The journal was published during a time of shifting social mores regarding fashion and femininity. France, where the journal originated, was under the rule of Napoleon. Women’s roles were both idealized and constrained by the Napoleonic code. This image oscillates between representations of women as decorative objects, while offering the wearer a vision of elegance. The neo-classical style, emphasizing simplicity, also reflects broader cultural trends, as does the use of imported cotton, or "perkale." Consider the global trade networks that enable the creation and distribution of these garments, and the labor, often forced, behind their production. This image invites us to contemplate the complex interplay between personal style, economic systems, and cultural identity.