Corset 1883 - 1887

Curator: Welcome. Before us is an object from the late 19th century, specifically 1883 to 1887: a corset. It resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: My first thought is restraint and constraint. The tight lacing... you can almost feel the pressure exerted on the body. Curator: Indeed. Corsets played a pivotal role in Victorian society. They were not merely garments, but symbols of social status, feminine ideals, and the very performance of womanhood itself. Editor: It’s fascinating how the construction dictates the form. Look at the materials: the stiffened panels, the meticulously placed boning—all conspiring to sculpt an "ideal" shape. One can only imagine the artisan's labour involved. Curator: Precisely. The whalebone or steel boning, the intricate stitching… these reflect the social economy of the garment industry. These dictated posture and breathing, impacting daily life but they were constructed and then worn. Think of the materials, made specifically to alter the body! Editor: And it's important to also acknowledge that for some women, the corset represented empowerment. It signified entry into a certain class and presentation of wealth that was desired at the time. Curator: That is also a point. Fashion could create an entry into social spaces. The tightly cinched waist created that fashionable hourglass silhouette that was in vogue during the period, showcasing their adherence to those trends. It can feel contradictory but, like many objects from history, corsets were highly contested items. Editor: Looking at the textile again, there’s a beauty in its functionality. You have a piece made from a particular selection of fabric with a definite purpose that speaks to the labour and materials of production, the ways humans shape and control themselves. Curator: I agree. When engaging with an object like this corset, we're reminded of how the narrative of art shapes historical meaning, dictating power relationships, aesthetics and function. Editor: Absolutely. An exploration of power and how the body relates to it, beautifully demonstrated. Thank you for walking us through the complex story that resides within its stitches.