La Mode, 24 décembre 1836, Pl. 536 : Robe en velours de smyrne-Fichu (...) 1836

"La Mode" (1836) by Jean-Denis Nargeot is a fashion plate, a genre of illustration popular in the 19th century. It depicts a fashionable couple, the woman holding a flute and wearing a gown of Smyrna velvet, a fabric prized for its softness and luxurious appearance. The man stands beside her, dressed in the fashionable attire of the period. The inclusion of the text "La Mode" and the date 1836 in the image itself signifies the plate's role as a visual record of contemporary fashion trends. This small-format print, measuring 225mm x 151mm, would have been a popular means of disseminating fashion ideas to a wider audience, reflecting the growing importance of fashion in 19th-century society.