La Mode Illustrée, 1867, No. 29: Costumes d'Enfants 1867

This is a print made by J. Bonnard in 1867, titled "La Mode Illustrée, No. 29: Costumes d'Enfants." It's a lithograph, meaning it was drawn on a flat stone and then printed. The image shows children in the latest fashions playing in a park, probably intended to be viewed by affluent women who had enough money to purchase fashionable clothing. The lithographic process allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of detailed images and text, perfect for disseminating fashion trends to a wide audience. The texture and color of the print are quite delicate. Notice the details in the children's clothing: the ruffles, the ribbons, the carefully tailored cuts. All of these fabrics were produced by skilled workers, and purchased by families with disposable income. The image itself serves as a form of labor, an advertisement created to stimulate desire and consumption, linking artistic skill and the wider fashion industry, revealing a complex interplay of art, craft, and commerce.