Magasin des Demoiselles, 25 octobre 1848 1848

This print, titled "Magasin des Demoiselles, 25 octobre 1848," was made by J. Desjardins in 1848. It exemplifies the fashion plates that were popular at the time. The artwork's visual impact largely derives from its production process. The printmaking would have involved a series of skilled labor, from the initial drawing and engraving of the image onto a metal plate, to the hand-coloring of each individual print. The textures and patterns of the dresses, rendered with fine lines, convey the quality of the fabrics, and offer insight into the fashion of the time. The image itself serves as a form of advertisement, targeting middle-class women who sought to emulate the styles of the upper class. These magazines played a crucial role in the development of consumer culture, fueling desire for fashionable goods and sustaining a complex network of production and distribution. It’s a reminder that even seemingly decorative arts like this are deeply intertwined with the social and economic realities of their time.