Petit Courrier des Dames, 1829, No. 622 : Robe de tulle garnie d'une guirland (...) 1829

This is an engraving, made in Paris in 1829, depicting women's fashion. In this era, fashion plates like this one served as a crucial form of visual communication, reflecting and shaping the tastes of the time. Published in the "Petit Courrier des Dames," this image offers insight into the social values of the Bourbon Restoration. The emphasis on luxury materials and elaborate designs speaks to the period's obsession with refinement. The image, with its meticulous detail, would have catered to the tastes of the aristocratic elite, a class eager to re-establish its status after the Revolution. We can consider how the magazine operated within a specific network of designers and consumers. The caption suggests that the dress was made by a specific couture house and was made available for purchase in a certain store on the Boulevard des Italiens. To fully understand the image, we can research the history of French fashion magazines, the structure of the haute couture industry, and the patronage networks that supported it. It's through this kind of work that we can understand the intricate relationship between art, commerce, and society.