Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costume Parisien, 5 mai 1824, (2233): Peigne d'ivoir (...) 1824

Editor: So, this is an etching and lithograph, “Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costume Parisien, 5 mai 1824” by August Delvaux. I'm struck by how much detail is packed into such a small print. What do you see in this piece beyond just a depiction of period fashion? Curator: I see a fascinating glimpse into the construction of feminine identity and social status in 1820s Paris. Delvaux doesn’t simply present pretty dresses. Look at the interaction between the women, the careful rendering of fabrics. What statements were women making about themselves with such careful displays of wealth and social status, in that specific political moment? Editor: It's like a silent language! Is the journal one of the women is holding related to the magazine's title? Curator: Precisely. The 'Journal des Dames et des Modes' was itself a powerful vehicle for disseminating these codes, reinforcing certain ideals of womanhood while implicitly excluding others. Who was able to afford such fabrics and styles? What did it mean to engage with and participate in the performance of “Frenchness” through costume at this time? Editor: It seems that fashion was used to convey a kind of aspirational identity, a claim on belonging. Do you think the artist, Delvaux, was making a commentary, or simply recording? Curator: That’s the key question. Consider how the women are posed, the details emphasized. Does Delvaux's perspective seem critical, celebratory, or something in between? And who do you think this journal was designed for, what social function did these illustrations serve? Editor: I didn't realize a simple fashion plate could contain such complex social commentary! It really makes you think about who is included, and excluded, from this fashionable world. Curator: Exactly! And how even seemingly innocuous images can reinforce or challenge existing power structures. Now, let’s consider the use of color, its subtlety...