Journal des Luxus und der Moden 1788, Band III, T.31 1788

Curator: This detailed engraving, entitled "Journal des Luxus und der Moden 1788, Band III, T.31," showcases the exquisite headwear fashionable at the time. It’s a pen and ink drawing by Friedrich Justin Bertuch from 1788, extracted from a larger publication focused on luxury and fashion. Editor: They're almost comically elaborate, aren’t they? It looks like a field of ruffles has exploded onto these women's heads. Curator: Indeed, these prints served as a visual directory for consumers and merchants alike, highlighting current trends and tastes. Fashion was rapidly evolving and increasingly important in expressing social status. Editor: So, a form of visual propaganda, really. Promoting a culture of extravagance at a time of growing social inequality, just before the French Revolution. Look at all the excess material used for purely aesthetic, non-functional purposes. The image of consumption is definitely being glorified here. Curator: Precisely. The "Journal des Luxus und der Moden" presented an idealized version of upper-class life. Yet, at the same time, by disseminating these styles through print, these fashion plates facilitated broader imitation across different social strata. They allowed aspects of elite culture to filter down. Editor: Did the fashions shown empower women? Or were these merely beautiful prisons? Curator: It’s a complicated question, isn't it? While the journal catered to women's interests, it also reinforced certain expectations regarding appearance and propriety. Fashion can be a creative outlet, and an act of conforming or an act of rebellion. Editor: Exactly! It seems strange, considering the looming social unrest, that such detailed focus would go into the fashions of the elite. Curator: It’s fascinating to consider this visual snapshot just as society was on the cusp of monumental upheaval. It prompts us to examine what these images tell us, both overtly and covertly, about class, gender, and the looming transformation of European society. Editor: Well, now I'll never look at a frilly bonnet without considering its role in the social fabric! Curator: And perhaps that's exactly what Bertuch inadvertently achieved: documenting not just fashion but the anxieties of a disappearing world.