Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens, 31 mars 1836, (3355): Mode de Longchamps (...) 1836

This hand-colored engraving from March 31, 1836, by Georges Jacques Gatine presents two Parisian women, showcasing the fashion of the era. The composition, focused on form and design, provides a study in contrasts, highlighting the era’s focus on shape and silhouette. The most prominent visual element is the dramatic volume of the dresses, achieved through voluminous sleeves and skirts. The color palette is subdued yet elegant, with deep blues and muted grays defining the garments, set against a lightly sketched landscape. This stark contrast serves to elevate the figures and accentuate their constructed forms. The texture, implied through delicate hatching and stippling, adds a layer of depth, enhancing the richness of the fabrics. The linear quality of the engraving, combined with the strategic use of color and shading, conveys the artificiality of the fashionable form. This approach challenges conventional representation by emphasizing artifice over naturalism. Ultimately, this print exists as a dialogue between the artificial and the real, the linear and the spatial, inviting us to question the codes of representation inherent in fashion and art.