Bürgerfrau zu Dresden in Winterkleidung - Samuel Gränicher

A detailed costume study by Samuel Gränicher depicting a woman in traditional winter attire from Dresden, rendered in etching with hand-applied colour.

This etching, titled Bürgerfrau zu Dresden in Winterkleidung, captures the specific winter attire of a middle-class woman in Dresden during the turn of the nineteenth century. Samuel Gränicher, a Swiss artist active in Germany, produced this work as part of a broader interest in regional dress and social documentation. The figure is depicted in a full-length pose, wearing a long, fur-trimmed coat over a lighter skirt, reflecting the practical necessities of the Saxon climate. She carries a small book and a hand warmer, items that suggest her status and the cold conditions of the period.

The print displays the clean lines and balanced composition typical of late eighteenth-century graphic arts. The hand-applied colour is restrained, focusing on the soft pink of the coat and the muted tones of the fur, which allows the viewer to focus on the texture of the garments. The calligraphic script at the base of the image identifies the subject and the location, a common practice in costume plates of the era intended for both documentation and aesthetic appreciation.

Gränicher provides a clear view of the silhouette and material choices of the time. The work functions as a visual record of urban fashion, stripped of unnecessary artifice. The figure stands against a plain background, ensuring that the focus remains entirely on the construction of the clothing and the accessories. This print offers a glimpse into the social history of Dresden, documenting how individuals navigated the winter months while maintaining a formal appearance. It is a precise example of the costume studies that were popular among collectors and historians who sought to catalogue the diversity of European dress before the onset of industrialised fashion.