Le Moniteur de la Mode, 1891, Nr. 2702e, No. 22 : Costumes d'Enfants (...) 1891

Edouard Tailland created this fashion plate of children's clothing in 1891 using engraving and stipple techniques. The composition centers on figures arranged in a garden setting, showcasing the attire of the era. The use of line and color here serves more than a descriptive function; it signifies social codes and aesthetic values. The adult figure's striped dress, with its vertical emphasis, contrasts with the children's varied outfits, each denoting a different stage of childhood and social expectation. Notice how the artist employs stippling to create texture and depth, adding a layer of sophistication to what might otherwise be a simple illustration. The semiotic system at play goes beyond mere fashion. The clothing, landscape, and even the activities depicted speak to a structured world of bourgeois leisure and decorum. This image is not just about clothes; it’s about the cultural construction of identity and status through visual representation.