Costume Drawing: Lady and Gentleman Dancing 1760 - 1800

Louis Binet made this costume drawing of a lady and gentleman dancing in France sometime in the late 18th century. The image captures the frivolity and excess of the French aristocracy on the eve of the revolution. Consider the woman’s elaborate hairstyle and dress, signifiers of wealth and status. These details offer insight into the rigid social hierarchy of pre-revolutionary France, where fashion and appearance played a crucial role in defining one's position in society. The bored man in the background perhaps represents the decadence of the aristocratic class, which would soon face the wrath of a revolution fueled by economic disparity and social injustice. Understanding this artwork requires studying the history of costume, dance, and social customs of the French court. Looking at periodicals, prints, and fashion plates from the time, can shed light on the cultural codes embedded in the image. In this way the artwork speaks to the political climate and societal tensions brewing beneath the surface of aristocratic life.