Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, dimanche 24 Août 1884, 13e Année, No. 660: Toilettes de M.me Méry (...) 1884

E. Cheffer made this print, Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, in France, in 1884. It was made to be published in a family magazine, to illustrate current trends in woman’s fashion. We can see that dressmaking at the time was a highly skilled occupation: the fine pleats, elaborate trimmings, and tailored fit of these garments speak to the dressmaker’s expertise. These clothes would have been expensive, so the image speaks to the values and aspirations of a wealthy social class. And, since the dresses are designed by Madame Méry, it also speaks to the emergence of the modern fashion designer. What is interesting to consider here is the public role of art. Why would a magazine commission an illustration of dresses? What is the relationship between the world of art and the culture of fashion? Historians make use of a range of primary sources like trade publications, personal letters, and financial records to reconstruct the meaning and significance of artworks like this one.