Dimensions height 282 mm, width 194 mm
This is an etching by Nicolas Dupin, made around 1780, showing a woman in fashionable dress. The composition is dominated by the figure, whose elaborate attire immediately captures our attention. Notice how the verticality of the stripes in her dress is offset by the horizontal ruffles and lace, creating a dynamic visual rhythm. The pastel palette softens the overall effect. Dupin’s work embodies the Rococo period’s fascination with surface and ornamentation. The subject gazes downward at a letter she holds, drawing our eye to the center of the image. This etching might be interpreted as an early form of fashion critique, questioning values of the period through its close attention to the transience of fashion. Ultimately, the careful orchestration of line, color, and texture invites viewers to reflect on the nature of representation and the shifting sands of cultural meaning.
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In 1778 two young publishers tapped a previously undiscovered market with the launch of a series entitled Gallerie des Modes, which responded to the growing demand among Parisians for fashion news. Initially featuring only hairstyles, the series’ illustrations were later extended to include complete outfits to cater to its audience. These showed figures from head to toe. All ranks of French society were represented in a wide variety of fashionable clothes, from the simple negligée 1 to the robe à la polonaise 2 3, the robe à l’anglaise 4 and the occasional smart gentleman’s suit.
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