Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, 1882, 11e année, No. 523: Toilettes de M.mes Bardé (...) 1882

A. Chaillot produced this print in 1882 for the French fashion magazine, "Revue de la Mode." We see a mother and daughter in fashionable dress, poised on a marble staircase with a potted plant. This image presents the latest styles in the cultural context of late 19th-century Paris, a city that was a center of fashion and commerce. Note how the clothing emphasizes the female form, creating a visually appealing shape which indicates wealth and status. These garments would have been expensive to produce and maintain, marking the sitters as members of the upper class. The girl's clothing imitates that of the mother, emphasizing social expectations around female gender roles. Magazines like the "Revue de la Mode" served a commercial function, showcasing new designs to consumers. As historians, we consult such periodicals, along with letters, diaries, and other primary sources, to understand the social structures and cultural values of the past. Looking at art like this, we see fashion not just as clothing but as a visual marker of social identity.