Les Élégances Parisiennes, ca. 1916, Supplément No 4, Pl. VI en VII, fig. 242 t/m 249 : TROIS COSTUMES DE PLAG (...) c. 1916

Editor: Here we have "Les Élegances Parisiennes, ca. 1916" a watercolor print by an anonymous artist. These flapper-era beach outfits seem almost… conservative by today's standards, don't they? What does this image communicate about its cultural moment? Curator: This print speaks volumes about the aspirations and social constraints facing women in the early 20th century. Note the title: "Elegances Parisiennes." It’s not simply about clothing; it’s about embodying a particular ideal of Parisian femininity, which, at the time, carried significant social capital. These “beach costumes” weren't merely functional; they performed an important social role. Editor: How so? It just seems like regular clothes to me. Curator: Think about the socio-political context. World War I was raging. Women were increasingly entering the workforce and public sphere, yet they were still largely confined to certain roles and expectations, even at the beach. The clothing reflects a tension between the desire for freedom and the pressure to maintain a respectable image. What’s more, the publication in a journal underscores how fashion was increasingly mediated and disseminated to a broader public. Who was dictating fashion at that time? Editor: I never considered the constraints! I guess this fashion was about fitting in. Curator: Precisely. The art market played a role, too. Consider how these fashion plates catered to an emerging consumer culture. Disseminating this ideal of Parisian style encouraged both consumption and emulation. Were there socioeconomic barriers for people trying to keep up with the newest fashions? Editor: Absolutely! It gives new meaning to fashion prints when seen that way. Thank you for explaining the socio-political influences present within the illustration. Curator: It reveals how fashion operated as a marker of identity and class, something often overlooked when simply appreciating aesthetics. Now I see these works under a different lens too!