Journal des Demoiselles, 1 Juin 1898, No. 5170 : Toilettes de Mme Gradoz (...) 1898

Paul Lacourière's print, published in France in 1898, presents an elegant composition of women adorned in the latest fashions. Dominating the scene is the parasol, an emblem of both protection and status. This sunshade, far more than a mere weather accessory, speaks to a cultivated life of leisure and a barrier against the sun's darkening rays, preserving the wearer's pale complexion, a mark of the upper class. The parasol echoes motifs from ancient sun worship, adapted to the modern era. These images of women carry echoes of classical goddesses, refigured in contemporary dress. The gestures and bearing of the figures, though seemingly of-the-moment, resonate with timeless ideals of beauty and grace. As we consider such images, we see the collective desires and aspirations of a society mirrored in the delicate lines of fashion, each fold and ornament telling a story of cultural values that continue to evolve and resurface, much like dreams in the collective consciousness.