Ladies' Fashion: Hairdressing and Hats

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

**Ladies' Fashion: Hairdressing and Hats***Johann August Rossmassler (German, 1752–1783), ca. 1770–1780* Print, Smithsonian American Art MuseumCreated by German artist Johann August Rossmass during the late 18 century, *Ladies' Fashion:dressing and Hats* the extravagant world of women's hairstyles and headwear from the 1770s. This print reflects the Rococo era's lingering influence, a time when European fashion emphasized elaborate powdered wigs, towering poufs adorned with feathers, ribbons, and miniature sculptures, and wide-brimmed hats that signaled social status. Rossmassler, active in a period bridging Rococo opulence and emerging Neoclassicism, likely produced this as a fashion plate to showcase trends for the elite. As a print, the work exemplifies how reproductive techniques like engraving or etching democratized high fashion, allowing middle-class viewers across Europe and beyond to emulate aristocratic styles. These images circulated widely, influencing dressmakers and consumers. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, it highlights transatlantic exchanges, as European prints inspired early American tastes. Though research continues, this piece offers a charming window into the creativity and excess of 18th-century femininity. (178 words)