Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, dimanche 5 août 1883, 12e annee, No. 605: Toilettes de M.me Bazin (...) 1883

This print was made by A. Chaillot in France, in 1883, as an illustration for the "Revue de la Mode" fashion magazine. Fashion plates like these offer a glimpse into the aspirations and social codes of the late 19th century. They reflect the era's emphasis on elaborate ornamentation, and the rigid class structure that dictated what one wore. Magazines like "Revue de la Mode" weren't just about clothing; they were about constructing an ideal of femininity and social status. The dresses, with their elaborate layers and trimmings, speak to the constraints placed on women of the time, physically and socially. The backdrop, a seaside promenade, places these women in a leisure setting, but even here, the expectation of fashionable display persists. To fully appreciate this image, one might delve into the history of French fashion, the rise of consumer culture, and the evolving role of women in society. The history of fashion magazines themselves, the Revue de la Mode, and its contemporaries, is also an interesting field for future research. Through such inquiry, we can gain insights into the social landscape that shaped both the creation and consumption of art in this period.