Het Toilet, 15 april 1879, No. 10 1879

E. Cheffer created this print called, "Het Toilet, 15 april 1879, No. 10." It’s fascinating to consider how fashion plates like this one, produced in the Netherlands, reflect the values and aspirations of a society. The print depicts two women in elaborate dresses, showcasing the height of late 19th-century bourgeois fashion. Their attire signals a particular social status, one afforded by economic prosperity. The scene, set indoors, suggests a world of leisure and domesticity, quite separate from the industrial labor that supported the Dutch economy. What’s striking is how these images promoted a certain ideal of womanhood. A woman whose primary role was to embody wealth and refinement. These prints weren't simply about clothing; they were about constructing and reinforcing social norms. To fully understand this image, we need to delve into the history of fashion, the rise of consumer culture, and the evolving role of women in Dutch society. Archival sources, fashion magazines, and social histories can offer rich insights into the world this print represents.