Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Francais, depuis 1776, B 8 : Coeffure en rouleaux (...) c. 1776

This print, from the series *Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Francais*, depicts fashionable hairstyles in late 18th century France, rendered in ink and watercolor. The hairstyles are towering and elaborate, built upon a foundation of meticulously arranged and styled hair, augmented by padding, extensions, and decorative elements. Crafting these complex *coiffures* was labor-intensive, requiring the expertise of skilled hairdressers and the application of various techniques, tools, and materials. The hairstyles’ immense scale and ornate embellishments reflect the social and cultural values of the French court, where fashion served as a means of self-expression, status display, and social differentiation. These hairstyles were not merely aesthetic adornments, but rather potent signifiers of wealth, power, and privilege within the rigid social hierarchy of pre-Revolutionary France. They represent an entire economy of labor and consumption, from the cultivation of raw materials to the skilled artisans who translated them into objects of desire. Looking at this print, we are encouraged to consider the social and economic context in which these images were produced and consumed, moving beyond conventional art historical interpretations.