Journal des Dames et des Demoiselles, 15 Novembre 1872, No. 106c. 1872

Jules David created this print, Journal des Dames et des Demoiselles, in 1872 for a popular French fashion journal. During this time, fashion plates weren't just about showcasing the latest styles; they were also a window into the aspirations and social roles of women in the upper classes. Here, two women are depicted gazing into a shop window. The attention to detail in their elaborate dresses and the way they carry themselves speaks volumes about the era's emphasis on appearance and social presentation. The dresses themselves, with their restrictive corsets and voluminous skirts, reflect the limited physical freedom afforded to women. While the journal catered to women, it also subtly reinforced societal expectations. The artist subtly captures the complex interplay between fashion, identity, and social expectations in 19th-century France. The very act of observing and consuming fashion became a carefully choreographed performance of femininity. Consider, too, the gazes of the women, both at the clothes and perhaps also aware of being looked at. Doesn't it make you wonder about their lives, dreams, and the unspoken rules that governed their world?