Le Suprême Bon Ton, 1800-1815, No. 22: Les modes anglaises à Paris 1800 - 1815

Editor: Here we have an engraving titled *Le Suprême Bon Ton, 1800-1815, No. 22: Les modes anglaises à Paris.* It's from somewhere between 1800 and 1815 and is held at the Rijksmuseum. It seems to want to capture a moment in time, documenting contemporary fashions. What stands out to you when you look at this piece? Curator: It whispers to me of a world obsessed with appearances, darling! Each figure meticulously rendered, a symphony of silk and starched collars. But beneath that polished surface, what anxieties, what social climbing might be churning? Look at how stiffly they're posed; they remind me of paper dolls in a very elaborate, expensive dollhouse. Is it capturing reality, or is it a highly stylized dream, designed to sell something? I'm never quite sure which with these sorts of period illustrations. Editor: That's a really good point! I was so focused on the historical aspect, but this could be selling a dream more than documenting reality. The figures do seem overly posed now that you mention it. I didn’t catch the tension earlier! It feels as if they're desperately trying to project an image. How does knowing it may be more advertisement than social record change how you look at the work? Curator: Ooh, well then the picture itself *becomes* the dress, or the suit, doesn’t it? And what is the artist really selling: a feeling of aspiration. And by showing these figures together what relationship are they trying to create? Is there a hierarchy? And who are *we* in relation to these grand people? I tell you what, Editor, let’s make our own rules for *our* dollhouse, shall we? It sounds far more fun to me, honestly. Editor: Yes, it definitely would be more fun! Thank you so much. Now, I'm definitely seeing so much more of what this period represents than the clothing.