Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Francais, 1778, G 40 : Femme de Qualité en Deshabillé (...) c. 1778

Etienne Claude Voysard created this print, “Femme de Qualité en Deshabillé,” around 1778, as part of a series documenting French fashion. It depicts a noblewoman in a relaxed morning outfit, highlighting the period’s emphasis on both status and leisure. During this time, fashion was a crucial marker of identity and class. The elaborate costumes and hairstyles reflected the social hierarchy and the economic disparities of pre-revolutionary France. Voysard’s detailed rendering captures not just the clothes, but also the cultural values they represented, think status, leisure, and exclusivity. The woman’s ‘deshabillé’ is an interesting oxymoron. Although more relaxed than formal court attire, it still signifies wealth and privilege. Her dress code reflects the rigid constraints of gender and class expectations in 18th-century France. I wonder, did fashion serve as a gilded cage, simultaneously celebrating and confining its wearers? As you consider this image, reflect on how clothing continues to shape our identities, signaling who we are and to whom we belong.