De Bazar, 1883, Nr. 23, Pl. 556 1883

This print, from an unknown hand in 1883, shows three women in high fashion dresses. The medium is lithography, a newly industrialized printing process that used the chemical repulsion of oil and water to transfer an image from stone to paper. It's important to note that this print itself was a product of mass manufacture, intended for wide circulation. Look at the gowns, how they emphasize the elaborate, ornamented, and highly structured silhouettes of the period. These dresses, while beautiful, were only possible through the exploitation of garment workers. The availability of printed images like this, in turn, fuelled consumer desire for the latest styles, creating a feedback loop of production and consumption. The textile and garment industries relied on both technological innovation and also labor to meet the demands of fashion. By considering the material conditions of its production, we can see how this seemingly innocent image is tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption, challenging traditional distinctions between art and craft.