Een man en een vrouw verkleden zich voor de spiegel 1779

Louis Bernard Coclers created this small etching, "A Man and Woman Dressing in Front of the Mirror," sometime around the late 18th century. It offers a glimpse into the social rituals surrounding fashion and identity. The image depicts a moment of intimate role-play: a woman in an elaborate wig and a man in a fur hat stand before a mirror, their expressions hinting at a playful performance of gender and class. This was a period when fashion was not merely about clothing, but also about signaling one's social standing and aspirations. Coclers, working in the Dutch Republic, captured a society increasingly preoccupied with appearances. Institutions like salons and print culture helped to fuel an obsession with the latest styles, while sumptuary laws that once regulated dress were falling by the wayside. Understanding this artwork requires that we consult fashion plates, conduct historical studies of Dutch society, and explore the era’s obsession with reflection and artifice. We begin to see how what might seem like a simple image is actually deeply enmeshed in the social and institutional contexts of its time.