Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Français, 1785, nr. 25, nr. 50, Kopie naar H 45 : Bourgeoise se promenant avec sa fill (...) c. 1785

This print, titled "Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Français, 1785" and made by Pierre Gleich, presents a study in contrasts through its delicate lines and pastel washes. The composition, split vertically, stages a mother and daughter in fashionable attire, inviting us to decode the semiotics of 18th-century French society. Observe how the artist plays with scale and proportion. The figures, rendered with meticulous detail, stand against a blank background, emphasizing their elaborate costumes. The flowing lines of the dresses create a sense of movement and grace, while the stark, pale background adds a sense of artificiality, challenging fixed notions of realism. Note also the tension between the mother's towering presence and the daughter's smaller stature. The image destabilizes established categories of age and status. Through these formal elements, Gleich offers not just a glimpse into fashion but also into the subtle power dynamics of the era. This is how we see how artistic interpretations offer ongoing and shifting understandings of society.