Le Moniteur de la mode, 1852, No. 344 : Modes de la Maison (...) 1852

This fashion plate was produced in 1852, printed on paper using engraving, and then hand-colored. We can see the results of a booming textile industry and the emergence of department stores, which served as a venue for displaying and selling the latest trends. The print demonstrates the artistry of the engraver and the skills required to capture the intricate details of the garments. The textures and patterns of the fabrics are carefully delineated through lines and shading, while hand-coloring adds depth and richness to the overall composition. The anonymous artist engaged with traditions of fashion illustration, using the print medium to disseminate idealized images of fashionable women and children. But consider also the labor of those who spun the thread, wove the fabric, sewed the seams, and applied the color to this very image. It's a small document, but tells a big story about industrialization, labor, and the power of images in a rapidly changing world.