Le Moniteur de la Mode, maart 1850, No. 250 : Toilettes de la Mon St. Laurent (...) 1850

Jean-Baptiste Réville created this print, entitled "Le Moniteur de la Mode," in Paris in March 1850. It depicts two Parisian women, one holding a baby, showcasing the latest fashions for the readers of this popular journal. The image itself creates meaning through visual codes of class. The woman on the right, adorned in a large, elaborate dress and shawl, is obviously wealthy, a member of the bourgeoisie, while the woman on the left is probably her maid. Fashion magazines like "Le Moniteur de la Mode" emerged in the 19th century alongside the rise of consumer culture and industrial production. They played a crucial role in shaping tastes and disseminating the latest trends to a growing middle class that had money to spend on dressing well. As historians, our understanding of images like this grows as we consider the social and economic structures of the time. So, a closer examination of fashion journals from this period, alongside economic data and social commentary, offers a richer understanding of the print’s message.