Dimensions height 290 mm, width 205 mm
This hand-colored etching, Gallerie des Modes, was created by Nicolas Dupin in France in the late 18th century. It captures the height of fashionable excess, but also hints at the social tensions brewing beneath the surface of the Ancien Régime. Fashion plates like this one served as a crucial link between the aristocratic world of the court and the burgeoning world of commerce. The image presents a woman strolling in the Luxembourg Gardens, flaunting a striped gown with elaborate ruffles and an oversized bonnet adorned with flowers. These details speak volumes about the French obsession with luxury and status during this period. The print was made at a time when France was on the brink of revolution. By examining fashion plates alongside other historical sources like diaries, letters, and economic records, we can gain a richer understanding of the complex interplay between art, society, and politics in 18th-century France.
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In 1778 two young publishers tapped a previously undiscovered market with the launch of a series entitled Gallerie des Modes, which responded to the growing demand among Parisians for fashion news. Initially featuring only hairstyles, the series’ illustrations were later extended to include complete outfits to cater to its audience. These showed figures from head to toe. All ranks of French society were represented in a wide variety of fashionable clothes, from the simple negligée 1 to the robe à la polonaise 2 3, the robe à l’anglaise 4 and the occasional smart gentleman’s suit.
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