Le Follet, Courrier des Salons, 1837, No. 632 : 1-2 Coiffure orné (...) 1837

Editor: So, here we have "Le Follet, Courrier des Salons, 1837," an ink drawing on paper, most likely a print. What strikes me is the attention to detail in depicting these very elaborate hairstyles and fashions. How do you interpret this work, with its multiple vignettes? Curator: What a fantastic example of cultural memory being visually codified. Each coiffure and bonnet displayed isn't simply a fashion statement; they represent a complex visual language. Notice how each design subtly communicates social standing, perhaps marital status, and adherence to current trends. This wasn't merely about looking pretty. How do you see this image functioning within the social context of its time? Editor: I see it as aspirational, perhaps instructional. Like a fashion magazine spread, but much more contained and subtle in its messaging. Each element, from the ribbon placement to the type of lace, probably had significance. Curator: Exactly! These details act as symbols, holding social meaning beyond mere adornment. The Romantic era deeply valued sentimentality and individual expression, even through regulated visual means such as dress. Consider, for instance, the central figure holding a fan; that was itself a coded instrument! What sentiments do you think the illustrator intended to evoke by presenting the hairstyles and fashions as distinct objects for viewing, rather than portraits of specific people? Editor: It suggests that the individual wearing these styles is secondary to the styles themselves – the styles communicate for the wearer. It also implies an objective perspective, maybe even some humor given it is named Le Follet (The Folly). I appreciate understanding this as less of a portrait and more of a visual lexicon. Curator: Precisely! A lexicon that reminds us that even the fleeting world of fashion participates in the much larger sphere of symbols and meaning that bind cultures and eras together.