Reproductie van drie tekeningen van vrouwen in lange jurken before 1900

This is a reproduction of three drawings of women in long dresses, made by the Direct Photo-Engraving Company. The technique of photo-engraving was an early form of mass media reproduction. By the late nineteenth century, printed images like these were circulating widely. They were often made to promote new fashions, and as such, were deeply connected to the growing consumer culture. The dresses are depicted with a great degree of detail, which is important, because the garment industry at this time was incredibly labor intensive. Seamstresses worked long hours in often dangerous conditions. Consider the social context in which these images were made: promoting high-end fashion to a wealthy clientele, while relying on the underpaid labor of women. Next time you look at an image, think about the processes of production that have made it possible, and how these processes reflect wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. It's a reminder that fashion is never just about the clothes themselves, but about the hands that make them, too.