Knippatronen voor dames- en kinderkleding, 1880 1880

This intriguing print, made in 1880 by an anonymous artist, shows patterns for women's and children's clothing. It's a window into the fashion of the time, but also into the social structures that shaped it. Fashion in the 19th century was deeply tied to class and gender. Clothes were a visual marker of status, and women's fashion, in particular, was often restrictive and elaborate, reflecting the limited roles women were expected to play in society. The patterns here, designed for both women and children, hint at the domestic sphere where women's labor was often confined. The print itself is a product of a growing print culture, where affordable publications made fashion trends accessible to a wider audience. It's also a reminder that art isn't just what hangs in galleries. The historian can explore this object, using sources like fashion magazines and social histories, to reveal the complex interplay between clothing, class, and gender in the late 19th century.