Collection consacrée aux modes d'hommes et de femmes, 1783-1813, No. 178 : La tendre Aglaé, en chignon (...). 1783 - 1813

Editor: This print, titled "Collection consacrée aux modes d'hommes et de femmes, 1783-1813, No. 178 : La tendre Aglaé...", presents a woman in a high-waisted dress. The colors are delicate, almost faded. How do you interpret this work? Curator: The material realities of this image are compelling. We see the fusion of “high” art, in the form of idealized neoclassical aesthetics, with the “lowly” world of fashion and print production. Notice the inscription referring to the publisher. It underscores the commercial aspect of circulating these images—feeding consumer demand for the latest trends. Consider also, the labor involved, from papermaking to the inking of the press. What might all this suggest about the broader social and economic landscape of the time? Editor: So, you're saying it's not just about the pretty dress but also the system that produced and consumed it? Curator: Exactly! The “Greek robe,” while seemingly timeless, was actually a product of specific manufacturing techniques, markets, and social desires. Examining the dress through a materialist lens asks us to consider the labor, consumption, and even exploitation woven into its very fabric. What was the ecological cost of producing paper in the 18th century, for example? Editor: That is a great perspective, and one that hadn't crossed my mind when viewing the artwork from an aesthetic point of view! Now I wonder about the work environment of those involved in making these prints... Curator: Precisely! Thinking about the processes opens up new avenues for understanding art and its place in society.