Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Français, 1785, nr. 25, nr. 49, Kopie naar P 85 : Tailleur costumier essayant (...) c. 1785

This print from the Gallerie des Modes et Costumes Français, circa 1785, depicts a tailor fitting a corset on a lady of fashion. Here, the corset, adorned with ribbons and delicate embroidery, transcends its functional purpose. It becomes a potent symbol, not only of aristocratic femininity but also of constraint and societal expectation. We can see echoes of this motif across various epochs. Consider the Minoan snake goddess, whose exposed breasts challenged conventional notions of female modesty. Or the medieval depictions of courtly love, where garments were used to convey hidden messages. Over time, such motifs evolve, reflecting shifts in cultural consciousness. The powerful emotions evoked by this image—the tension between freedom and restriction, the allure of the forbidden—continue to engage viewers on a subconscious level. The cyclical progression of symbols continues as this print resurfaces, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.