Petit Courrier des Dames, 20 janvier 1827, No. 443 : Redingotte de gros de Naples... 1827

This fashion plate, "Petit Courrier des Dames, 20 janvier 1827, No. 443," was created anonymously to be published in Paris. The bows adorning the dress are not merely decorative; they echo a historical fascination with constraint and adornment. These bows, emblems of ties and bonds, hearken back to earlier eras, where ribbons and knots symbolized allegiances, promises, and even romantic entanglements. Recall the elaborate courtly attire of the Renaissance, where bows signified social status and complex networks of power. In this image, the bows have evolved, yet they maintain a connection to the past. They adorn a dress, yes, but also hint at the psychological constraints placed upon women. We are thus invited to consider how collective memory plays a role in the continuous return and reinterpretation of these motifs, and how the language of adornment carries both personal and cultural significance, engaging viewers on a subconscious level.