Le Charivari, sept. 1841 : Modes. Pantalon de tricot (...) 1841

This lithograph, made in France in September 1841 by an anonymous artist, is titled ‘Le Charivari’ and depicts a fashionably dressed couple. It presents an interesting insight into the social codes of dress and identity during this period. Consider the setting: the figures appear to be in a public space. The man, in his tailored coat and smartly styled hair, seems to adhere to bourgeois conventions of formality. The woman's attire, however, with its shorter skirt, presents a slight deviation from accepted norms, hinting at the evolving roles of women in society. This image was published in a satirical magazine. Could the artist be commenting on the commercialization of fashion and its impact on social values? Is the artist commenting on the social structures of their time? To fully understand this artwork, we need to research the fashion trends of the 1840s in France, the rise of consumer culture, and the changing status of women. By consulting fashion plates, periodicals, and social commentaries of the time, we can gain a deeper appreciation of this image as a reflection of its social and institutional context.