Très Parisien, 1923, No 8: 6. - PROMENADE. - Un charmant tailleur... 1923

This fashion plate, titled "Très Parisien," was made in 1923, likely by an anonymous printmaker in Paris. The image is made with flat application of color, which emphasizes the careful construction of the garments. The text accompanying the image describes a wool velvet suit trimmed with embroidered braid and white fox, and a cape made of striped "amazone" fabric. These fabrics speak to the culture of Parisian couture, where skilled labor drove a culture of high fashion. The print is particularly interesting when considered in the context of labor and class; images like these promoted the fantasy of exclusive style, while simultaneously relying on a vast workforce of designers, seamstresses, and textile workers. Though the print appears to be the product of mechanical reproduction, it points to a huge amount of human effort. By considering the materials, processes, and social context of this image, we can more fully appreciate its meaning and challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.