La Sylphide, 1869, No. 1036, du 10 : Parfumerie Oriza de Legrand (...) c. 1869

This print, titled *La Sylphide*, was made in 1869 by J. Desjardins as an advertisement for the Oriza perfumery in Paris. The image is a fashion plate, likely produced by lithography, a technique that allowed for the relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images. The fashion plate’s purpose was to promote new styles, and, in this case, also to sell perfume and other beauty products. Look closely and you’ll see the texture of the woven textiles, the drape of the skirts, and the cut of the bodices. These details were crucial for the image to function as a form of consumer desire. The print speaks to the rise of consumer culture in the 19th century, where fashion became increasingly accessible to a wider range of social classes. It reflects the labor involved in producing fashionable garments and the social aspirations they represent. This artwork reminds us that even seemingly superficial images are deeply intertwined with the social and economic realities of their time.