About this sheet
Country Woman near Nuremberg, Germany – Antique Costume Engraving, c.1795
This charming costume engraving depicts a rural woman from the vicinity of Nuremberg (Nürnberg) in Bavaria, Germany. Published for The New Geographical Dictionary in London around the end of the eighteenth century, the print forms part of a series documenting the regional costumes and customs of Europe. Such engravings were intended to satisfy the growing interest in geography, travel, and ethnography during the Enlightenment period.
The figure is shown wearing traditional Franconian dress, consisting of a fitted bodice, apron, full skirt, jacket, stockings, and a distinctive head covering tied beneath the chin. Unlike many costume prints that simply illustrate clothing, this engraving includes a detailed contemporary description beneath the image, explaining the materials and seasonal variations of the garments. The text notes that the woman's head covering consists of white linen secured under the chin and topped by a fur cap, while her jacket differs between summer and winter. Such observations provide a fascinating glimpse into everyday life and regional customs in late eighteenth-century Germany.
Nuremberg was one of the most important cities of the Holy Roman Empire and a major center of commerce, craftsmanship, and cultural exchange. The surrounding countryside maintained distinct local traditions of dress that differed considerably from urban fashions. Costume engravings such as this served as visual records of regional identity long before photography existed and remain valuable sources for historians of fashion and social life.
The engraving is executed in a clean and elegant copperplate style, with fine attention given to the textures of the clothing and the posture of the figure. Today these prints are appreciated both as decorative works and as important documents of European costume history.
Condition report: Good antique condition with age-related toning and light foxing. Minor handling wear and edge imperfections consistent with age. Visible plate mark present. Please examine the images carefully for exact condition.
Framing tips: This engraving displays beautifully in a dark walnut, ebonized, or gilt frame with a warm ivory mat. The generous margins and engraved text panel benefit from a museum-style presentation.
This is an original antique copperplate engraving, printed at the time. It is not a modern reproduction. Any images showing the print framed are for presentation purposes only. The print is supplied unframed.
