Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, dimanche 29 Avril 1883, 12e annee, No. 591: Toilettes de M.me Delannoy (...) 1883

This is a fashion plate by P. Deferneville, published in 1883 as part of the journal "Revue de la Mode". The lithograph features two women in elaborate dresses set against a loosely sketched landscape. The composition is strictly symmetrical, with the figures occupying the left and right sides of the picture plane. Notice how the dresses are constructed of complex layers and patterns, emphasizing texture and form over function. The use of colour, with the contrasting muted floral patterns on the left and the geometric checks on the right, creates a tension that animates the scene. This print destabilizes traditional portraiture by focusing on surfaces and structural intricacies. Deferneville uses the female form as a mannequin to explore the semiotics of fashion and its role in constructing identity. The work functions as a visual text, revealing the cultural codes and social meanings embedded in clothing during the late 19th century.