Modes du printemps de 1855 1855

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, "Modes du printemps de 1855," using a greasy crayon on a stone matrix, a process that allowed for the mass production of images for popular consumption. The print captures women in voluminous dresses, their elaborate construction hinted at by the frantic, scribbled lines of the lithographic process. The exaggerated ruffles and skirts suggest a fashion trend taken to its absurd extreme. What I find fascinating here is the link between image-making and industrial production. Lithography, as a reproductive medium, perfectly mirrors the mass production of textiles and fashion items during this period. Daumier’s work implies a critique of both – the relentless churn of new styles, and the labor involved in creating them, effectively lampooning consumer culture. By using printmaking to comment on fashion, Daumier blurs the lines between art, craft, and social commentary, reminding us that all forms of making are deeply intertwined with the social and economic forces of their time.