What do Alexander Roslin's high-society portraits and Tobias Bernstrup's photographic self-stagings in lacquer and pumps have in common? At the end of the eigthteenth century, new boundaries were drawn regarding gender identitiy, the way of seeing nature, and the relationship between the West and China. In our times, those boundaries are questioned and transcended anew, which opens up for new perspectives on art, fashion, and handicraft of the eighteenth century. Conversely, eighteenth century art may tell us something about our times.