Petit Courrier des Dames, 20 avril 1844, No. 2009 : Chapeau des Mns de Mme Dass (...) 1844

This fashion plate, Petit Courrier des Dames, was printed in Paris in 1844. The design would have been etched into a metal plate, likely copper, which was then inked and pressed onto paper. Finally, the image was hand-colored. The print's crisp lines and delicate shading demonstrate the etcher’s skill. But consider, too, the labor involved in creating the clothing depicted. The plaid fabric of the standing woman's dress required careful weaving. Lace, as seen on the seated figure’s shawl and bonnet, was painstakingly made by hand or machine. These garments weren't just objects of beauty; they represented a complex global system of production and consumption. The print itself, distributed widely, fueled demand for fashionable goods. By focusing on the making, we can see beyond the surface elegance and appreciate the broader social and economic forces at play.