L'art de la coëffure des dames françoises, avec des estampes : où sont représentées les têtes coëffées, gravées sur les dessins originaux de mes accommodages, avec le traité en abrégé d'entretenir & conserver les cheveux naturels 1768 - 1770

This print, titled "L'art de la coëffure des dames françoises" which translates to "The art of hairdressing for French ladies," was created by Legros de Rumigny. The print offers insight into the rigid beauty standards that dominated aristocratic French society. The elaborate hairstyle, adorned with pearls and ribbons, speaks volumes about the emphasis placed on appearance and the performance of femininity. Hairdressing manuals such as this one, were an important part of the culture of beauty and fashion of the time. It makes you wonder, who were these beauty ideals really for? And who was excluded? As we consider the immense resources required to maintain such appearances, we might reflect on the societal structures that upheld such inequality. Consider how beauty standards are used to reinforce social hierarchies even today.