La Mode, ca. 1837 : Tilbury de Thomas Baptiste-Harnais (...) c. 1837

This print, La Mode, from around 1837, depicts a fashionable couple riding in a Tilbury carriage. Though the artist is unknown, the print offers a window into the aspirations and social codes of the French upper class during the July Monarchy. The image captures a moment of leisure, underscoring the importance of appearances and the performance of social status. Notice how the woman’s bonnet obscures her face, emblematic of the era's restrictive gender norms and the emphasis on female modesty. The man, in contrast, is in control of the reins. The elegance of the carriage and the couple's attire speak to the economic disparities of the time, where access to such luxuries was a marker of privilege and distinction. This image offers a glimpse into the complex interplay of class, gender, and identity in 19th-century France. It reminds us that fashion, like art, is a language that reflects and shapes our understanding of ourselves and society.