File:Dam i högreståndsdräkt, 1400-tal - Nordiska Museet - NMA.0041172.jpg

"Costumes historiques de femmes"
Historical costume was an important motif in the visual culture of the later 19th century. Historicism was a prevailing tendency in contemporary European culture and knowledge on historical dress was needed in order to create authenticity in images of past times. Not least in painting motifs and tales from the national history were important in evoking national feelings for the origin of the nation and its people. Plates with historical costumes were distributed between countries and created generalising stereotypical and partly supranational images of historical fashion. If we look at the plate with the 15th century costume, we see a dress which fits in to the supposed period but also shows features of 19th century style-ideals. As the image was created for a 19th century viewer it had to be aesthetic in the modern eye even though it was intended to present 15th century reality.