Journal des Demoiselles, 1 août 1892, No. 4897 : Toilettes de Mme Thirion (...) 1892

This fashion plate, titled "Journal des Demoiselles, 1 août 1892," was made by A. Chaillot, using a printmaking process called engraving. It features figures adorned in the latest fashions, but beyond the surface, it offers insights into labor, class, and consumption. Engraving, a meticulous process, involves incising lines onto a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. This intricate technique demands skilled labor, reflecting the amount of work involved in the production process. The subject of this print is clothing. It depicts fashionable women and girls in their garments. The work of dressmaking, although largely unseen here, was also a complex industry, one that similarly required skilled labor. Fashion plates like these played a crucial role in shaping consumer culture, showcasing the latest trends and fueling the desire for new commodities. They exemplify the intersection of art, commerce, and society in late 19th-century France. By recognizing the labor involved in creating both the print and the garments, we gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and economic context in which this image was produced.