Jurk voor een uitknippop 1825 - 1875

This paper doll dress, entitled 'Jurk voor een uitknippop' was created by an anonymous artist with unknown materials. The piece captures a moment in time, not through a grand portrait or historical scene, but through the lens of domestic life and childhood play. The dress's design reflects the fashions of the 19th century, a time when clothing was heavily dictated by social status and gender roles. The act of dressing and adorning paper dolls provided a space for young people to internalize and perform these roles, mimicking the rituals of adult society. This simple cut-out also touches on the burgeoning consumer culture of the time, where fashion and material goods were becoming increasingly accessible and desirable. As historians, we look beyond the surface to uncover the social structures and cultural values embedded within such seemingly simple objects. By researching fashion trends, childhood education, and the rise of consumerism in 19th-century Europe, we can better understand the significance of this paper doll dress and the world it inhabited. The meaning of art is always contingent on the society in which it was made.