Habit of a Lady of Indostan

by Thomas Jefferys

This hand-colored engraving from Thomas Jefferys is entitled "Habit of a Lady of Indostan." It is a perfect example of ethnographic representation in the 18th century.

This beautifully engraved image provides an exceptional opportunity to take a look at the rich clothing culture that characterized 18th-century India. A noble woman of "Indostan" (now Hindustan) dressed in traditional costume is depicted on this engraving. This clothing consists of a transparent veil that probably symbolizes either dupatta or odhani over a tightly fitted bodice and wide pants.

In addition to being an excellent sample of a fashion design, the engraving under analysis represents one of the links that unite the past and the present. It depicts the efforts made by the British Enlightenment in order to create visual classification of the entire world.