L'Art et la Mode, ca. 1891, No. 22, XII: Toilette en foulard (...) c. 1891

Marie de Solar created this print, L'Art et la Mode, around 1891 using engraving and stipple techniques to depict a fashionable dress. The overall impression is one of lightness and grace, achieved through a delicate balance of pattern and form. The composition features a woman in a white dress adorned with pink polka dots. The dress is structured in distinct sections that visually compartmentalize the figure: the puff sleeves and high-collared bodice juxtapose with the tight corset. The eye is drawn to the curves and lines of the figure and is then led down the skirt where the dots create a sense of movement and rhythm. This rhythm is cut, however, by the hem of the dress, which has another horizontal line, created with a lace trim. Solar's attention to detail is evident in the intricate lacework, the delicate rendering of the flowers in the woman's hair, and the textures of the fabrics. It's in these nuances that Solar reflects the broader artistic concerns of her time, challenging conventional representations of femininity and engaging with new ways of thinking about space, perception and representation.