Petit Courrier des Dames, 1824, No. 246 : Robe de mousselin (...) 1824

This is a fashion plate from the *Petit Courrier des Dames*, printed in Paris in 1824. It presents two women in meticulously detailed muslin gowns, complete with lace embellishments and elaborate hats, enjoying a moment of leisure on a swing. This image isn't just about fashion; it's a carefully constructed representation of bourgeois femininity during the Restoration period in France. The journal itself was part of a burgeoning industry catering to the aspirations of an upwardly mobile readership keen to emulate the styles and manners of the elite. The setting, though minimal, evokes an idealized vision of nature, a space for private recreation away from the bustle of the city. Note how the women are posed to showcase the garments, their activities secondary to the display of sartorial elegance. Historians of fashion and material culture use sources like this, alongside trade records and personal accounts, to understand the complex interplay between social status, consumerism, and visual representation in the 19th century. Fashion plates like this are fascinating documents of their time.