Journal des Demoiselles, 1 septembre 1885, No. 4536 : Costumes de Mme Turl (...) 1885

This fashion plate comes from the Journal des Demoiselles, printed in Paris in September 1885. It is made with the technique of steel engraving, a process by which an image is incised into a metal plate, inked, and then printed onto paper. Steel engraving was prized for its capacity to produce fine, detailed lines, which you can see here in the delicate rendering of the women’s dresses. But its adoption was primarily driven by economics. Steel plates could produce many more impressions before wearing down than copperplates, making them perfect for mass-produced images such as this. Fashion plates like this played a crucial role in the burgeoning fashion industry of the late 19th century. They not only showcased the latest styles but also fueled consumer desire, contributing to the rapid expansion of textile production and garment manufacturing. The image might seem like a quaint window into the past, but it's also a testament to the powerful forces of industrialization and consumerism at play.