Petit Courrier des Dames, 1826, No. 409 : Chapeau de paill (...) 1826

This fashion plate, titled 'Petit Courrier des Dames, 1826, No. 409,' was made anonymously, using etching and hand-colouring. This reproductive print gives us a glimpse into the fashion of the Parisian elite, but also the fashion industry behind it. The original drawing would have been translated into a series of lines on a copper plate, using acid to bite the image into the metal. Then, many identical impressions could be printed. The print’s crisp lines and delicate shading speak to the skill involved. But note also the hand-colouring. Applying colour to each print would have been an intensive, repetitive job. This speaks to the division of labour that was already well entrenched in the fashion industry by the 1820s. On one hand, innovative designers, and on the other a workforce of artisans. These are the kind of production dynamics that fueled the rise of capitalism, and continue to this day. So, next time you pick up a fashion magazine, remember to consider all the hands that brought it to you.