National Costume — engravings

During the Age of Enlightenment, as Europe discovered the diversity of the world, costume became one of the primary subjects of study and collecting. Artists and travelers created meticulous sketches of the clothing of different peoples, which were then reproduced as engravings and disseminated throughout Europe.

The national costume in engraving represents a complete ethnographic chronicle of the world's attire. Every detail here carries meaning: the cut, the ornamentation, the headwear, the jewelry. From these details one could determine a person's status, age, marital situation, and social standing. Artists paid particular attention to headwear—the most traditional and symbolically charged part of the costume.

In the engravings presented here, costumes are rendered with jeweler-like precision, and the expressive faces correspond to ethnic types. In some prints, figures are depicted against landscapes or the interiors of dwellings, allowing a deeper understanding of the atmosphere surrounding the national costume.

Among the masters who worked in this genre were renowned illustrators such as John Dadley, Jean-Baptiste Leprince, and Yemelyan Korneyev, whose works were published in lavish albums in Paris, London, and St. Petersburg. Many of these engravings are hand-colored with watercolor, making each print a unique work of art.