Journal des Jeunes Personnes, novembre 1857, 27.me année, No. 61 : Modes Toilettes d'Hiver 1857

Louis Berlier created this lithograph in November 1857, which appeared in the ‘Journal des Jeunes Personnes’. The print illustrates three figures adorned in winter fashion, set against a backdrop of domestic opulence. What immediately strikes you is the composition, a study in contrasts achieved through colour and form. The lithograph employs a visual language deeply rooted in the semiotics of fashion. Each element—the cut of a dress, the drape of a shawl—functions as a signifier of status and taste. Note how the artist uses line and colour to define social roles; the intricate patterns and layered fabrics not only depict clothing but also communicate complex codes of femininity and social standing. The setting, with its ornamental details, serves as a stage upon which these sartorial statements are made, emphasizing the constructed nature of identity within the social milieu. The artwork reflects and interrogates the values of its time. It uses the visual language of fashion to explore themes of identity, social status, and the constructed nature of femininity. The piece invites us to consider how clothing functions as a form of communication, encoding and challenging the cultural norms of mid-19th-century society.