Luxus

Once a privilege of the aristocracy, from the 18th century to the end of the Weimar Republic luxury developed into a bourgeois status symbol – a cornerstone of modern consumer society. This publication examines the ambivalence of the concept of luxury, from moral criticism to its key role as a driver of capitalist dynamics. Although industrialisation made luxury goods more widely available, new social inequalities were also created. Based on key topics – from colonial cuisine and architecture to fashion and design, as well as to increasing mobility and leisure – this volume unfolds a genealogy of abundance on the threshold of modernity. Against the backdrop of current debates on inflation, resource scarcity and social division, a critical perspective emerges on luxury and wealth today.Interdisciplinary contributions on the history of consumerism and luxuryFocus on German- and French-speaking countriesBaden-Baden as a European showcase for luxurious lifestylesExhibition: Museum LA8 Baden-Baden, October 24, 2026 to June 6, 2027