Petit Courrier des Dames, 30 novembre 1827, No. 517 : Manteau de satin doublé de pluche... 1827

Curator: I'm so intrigued by this watercolor illustration from 1827, titled "Petit Courrier des Dames, 30 novembre 1827, No. 517: Manteau de satin doublé de pluche..." Editor: Wow, that’s a mouthful. My first impression? The overall mood feels surprisingly theatrical, as though it might be lifted straight from the pages of a gothic romance novel. The details, particularly the fabrics, speak to a sense of layered concealment. Curator: The use of mixed media gives it an almost tactile quality, doesn’t it? If you examine the satin of the coat, there's a remarkable level of detail and subtle depth for a print of that era, but also, paradoxically, an interesting abstraction in rendering such details. Notice also how much volume the ruffles on the hem give the dress and cloak. Editor: Precisely! The lines, too, have a fascinating flow. Everything cascades and droops downwards, despite what I assume would've been highly structured garments at the time. Does this, perhaps, hint at an emotional tone or a cultural mood, or perhaps it just emphasizes movement in the clothes themselves? Curator: It's worth noting that we see examples like this appear frequently in "Petit Courrier des Dames" issues. Given the magazine’s broad distribution to middle- and upper-class women, illustrations such as this played an instrumental role in disseminating both practical information and more whimsical aspects of fashion. This piece, I find, reflects both simultaneously. There are structural elements, such as the clear distinction of sartorial parts, and then wild stylistic decisions with color, trim, and use. Editor: This piece makes me reflect on the constant negotiation that fashion and taste represent; the ever present tension between social norms, private feeling, and personal performance of one’s individual identity. It makes me realize that some things truly don’t ever change.