Journal des Luxus und der Moden 1788, Band III, T.20 1788

Editor: This is plate 20 from the third volume of "Journal des Luxus und der Moden," published in 1788, with artwork by Friedrich Justin Bertuch. It's an engraving, seemingly documenting fashion of the time, and she’s got quite a hat. It makes me wonder what symbols of status are embedded here? What do you see in this piece beyond just a depiction of late 18th-century fashion? Curator: Indeed, let's look beyond mere surface. Think of the hat itself. The height, the feathers - they signify an aspiration towards the heavens, a reaching for something more. In many cultures, birds represent the soul's journey. Feathers become potent symbols of status and perceived access to divine power. Does this inform your understanding of the lady in the portrait? Editor: It does! Her upward gaze, too, seems more intentional now. It's not just about showing off a fancy hat; it's communicating aspiration. What about her pointed finger, it feels staged. Curator: Precisely! The gesture can also hold symbolic weight, consider her social class. To whom might she be directing, inviting, or commanding? The act implies social dominance, reinforced by luxurious dress. Editor: So the illustration isn’t a simple snapshot of clothing, but a carefully constructed statement? It sounds like both fashion and pose serve as signs. I didn't recognize that the material objects represent so much more! Curator: Visual culture is a language of its own, designed to evoke not only beauty, but layers of coded messages, reflective of its cultural memory, accessible when you begin to explore its language of symbols. We understand its depth by learning these codes, and then we’ll unravel its story!