Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Francais, 1785, CCC 297: Jolie Femme se promenant seule... 1785

Editor: So, this is “Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Francais, 1785, CCC 297: Jolie Femme se promenant seule..." created in 1785 by Nicolas Dupin, currently at the Rijksmuseum, executed as a watercolor painting. It’s an interesting piece... something about the way the woman is depicted suggests a kind of manufactured aristocratic leisure. How do you see this work interacting with the fashion of its time? Curator: That's a perceptive observation. This image, appearing in a fashion plate series, presents an idealized, commercial vision of aristocratic life. It reflects how fashion, during the late 18th century, was not simply about clothing. It became a signifier of social status and a commodity actively disseminated and consumed by a growing market. Consider how the text below the image names the dressmaker “Charlotte”: do you think this serves an additional purpose? Editor: Ah, I see. It makes the print into an advertisement too, increasing its relevance to consumers. It’s interesting to consider how fashion plates both reflected and shaped social aspirations. Curator: Exactly. These images actively participated in constructing a desirable identity. It catered to an audience eager to emulate the aristocracy and participate in a culture of refined consumption. Furthermore, consider the gaze of the woman - she appears absorbed by an inner reflection. It might appear melancholic; yet it projects the lifestyle desired by new classes of wealthy consumers. Editor: That's a crucial point. It’s not just about the clothes, but the lifestyle and emotional world associated with them. These plates really seem to be about selling an entire image. Curator: Precisely. By circulating these curated images of fashion and lifestyle, there's a negotiation between the existing aristocracy, new economic powers, and the institutions producing these types of portrait-advertisements. Editor: This discussion made me see beyond just the pretty colors. It’s not simply art reflecting society, but art actively shaping aspirations and consumerism in the late 18th century. Thanks! Curator: The pleasure was all mine!