Journal des Dames et des Modes, editie Frankfurt 10 novembre 1806, Costume Parisien (46) : Demi-Parure. Costumne dessiné à l'un des Concerts de Mme Catalani. 1806

This fashion plate, made by Friedrich Ludwig Neubauer around 1806, depicts a Parisian "demi-parure" or semi-formal dress. Notice the delicate floral motifs adorning the bodice, echoed by the red blossoms in her hair – symbols of renewal and beauty, deeply rooted in the visual language of springtime festivals and fertility rites. The gesture of the figure holding a fan to her face has ancient roots as well. In classical antiquity, such concealment was used to signal modesty. We see echoes of this in Renaissance portraits, where veiled figures conveyed both mystery and virtue. Yet, observe how the context has shifted: in this era of salons and social gatherings, the fan becomes a playful tool of flirtation, a subtle dance between revelation and concealment. This image captures how symbols evolve, shaped by the currents of cultural memory and the ever-changing theater of human interaction.