Dubbele plaat met twaalf mannen gekleed volgens de Franse mode, ca. 1580 1872 - 1875

This is an anonymous print from around 1580, presenting twelve men’s fashions popular in France. Fashion in the 16th century was deeply connected to social standing, influenced by factors like gender, class, and cultural identity. French styles were often seen as the height of sophistication, and this print gives us a look into the visual codes that signified status and belonging in that era. The men’s garments are brightly colored and highly textured. Consider how the tailoring and fabrics would have felt on the body. Garments like these were designed to be seen, and the men who wore them performed specific social roles. The print gives us a glimpse of the complex relationships between clothing, identity, and power, reminding us that what we wear is always saying something, whether we intend it to or not.