Ancient Dutch Dresses. 1760 - 1770

This print, made by Charles Grignion I, presents us with a historical record of “Ancient Dutch Dresses.” Produced through engraving, the image’s fine lines and tonal variations are achieved through the meticulous labor of cutting into a metal plate. It's a reproductive medium, disseminating images for Bankes’s “New System of Geography.” The print's visual language speaks to the era's interest in cataloging and classifying the world, very much like an early form of social media. Note how the figures, identified as the Prince of Orange, a Count of Flanders, and a soldier, are rendered with careful attention to their garments. These clothes would have been products of skilled labor: weaving, tailoring, embroidery all signifying status and national identity. Consider the social hierarchies embedded in the production and consumption of these textiles. In this way, the print preserves a moment in time and prompts us to consider the economic and social structures that underpinned even the most basic elements of daily life.