Le Guide des Couturières, ca. 1892, Nr. 2835e c. 1892

Paul Lacourière created this print, Le Guide des Couturières, around 1892. The lithograph presents a staged tableau of figures ascending or descending a grand staircase, each attired in elaborate historical costumes of the 19th century. Note how the artist employs line and color to distinguish each figure and costume. The meticulous detail in rendering the fabrics and trimmings invites a semiotic reading; each element functions as a signifier of social status, historical period, and cultural identity. This is not merely a display of fashion; the artist engages with the era’s fascination with historical revivalism. The print's linear composition leads the eye through the ensemble, encouraging a comparative analysis of styles. This creates a dialogue between past and present, reflecting broader concerns about modernity, tradition, and the construction of identity through material culture. The work thus functions as a complex matrix of signs and symbols, inviting ongoing interpretations.