Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille, dimanche 5 avril 1885, 14e Année, No. 692: Jupons & Corsets (...) 1885

Editor: So, this is an illustration from the "Revue de la Mode, Gazette de la Famille" dated April 5th, 1885. The artist is listed as A. Chaillot. It looks like it’s made using lithography and watercolor. The detail is astonishing, especially on the dresses. How do you interpret this piece? Curator: It’s fascinating when you consider the printmaking process, isn’t it? This image wasn’t made quickly; it’s a product of considered labor and the reproduction of luxury for a wider audience. Think about the materiality itself: the paper, the inks, the lithographic stone – these were all commodities in their own right. How were they sourced and produced? Editor: That's an interesting point. I hadn't really thought about the paper or ink itself. Curator: Exactly. Consider the corset. This print served to disseminate particular notions of ideal form, manufactured by specific industries involving both skilled labor and the exploitation of women in factories, a true symbol of material constraint and also the structure around which a lifestyle and look could be crafted through consumption. It is printed ephemera, advertising and driving very physical restrictions in the name of “fashion.” How did this image affect the women who saw it? Editor: It’s really interesting to think about the consumption and the production involved behind something that seems so, well, dainty! I guess I was focusing more on aesthetics than the industry behind the piece. Curator: That focus on the material, from the print to the clothes depicted, is where the story really unfolds. Editor: I hadn’t considered how much labour went into creating what looks like a pretty image; that context makes a huge difference. Thanks for that perspective! Curator: My pleasure. Understanding that process unlocks a new depth of meaning.