Les Modes Parisiennes, 1877, No. 1768 : Ceinture-Régente de Mesdames de Vertus soeurs, (...) 1877

E. Bracquet made this print, "Les Modes Parisiennes, 1877, No. 1768," using engraving techniques. Fashion plates like this one were more than just illustrations; they were deeply embedded in the social and cultural fabric of 19th-century Paris, reflecting the era's rigid class structures. The detailed depiction of garments, with their elaborate frills and trains, speaks to the culture of haute couture that dictated women's social standing. These garments were worn by women whose identities were largely shaped by the clothes they wore and the social roles they performed. While appearing to celebrate fashion, this image also underscores the limited scope of women's lives, often confined to the domestic sphere and judged by their appearance. The women here seem trapped in a performance of femininity, their agency subsumed by the dictates of style. As viewers, we are invited to reflect on the layers of meaning embedded in everyday objects like clothing and how they shape our understanding of identity and history.