Petit Courrier des Dames, 31 mars 1838, No. 1435 : Amazone et toilettes d'homm (...) 1838

This print, titled "Petit Courrier des Dames," was made in 1838 by Damours using etching and engraving, overlaid with hand-applied watercolor. It’s an advertisement for Parisian fashion. The printmaking process allowed for the detailed rendering of the clothing. Notice the crisp lines defining the cut of the garments, the subtle shading suggesting the drape of the fabric, and the delicate textures painstakingly added by hand. The coloring completes the illusion, adding to the luxurious effect. Consider the labor embedded in this image: not only the meticulous work of the printmaker and colorist, but the unseen hands of the tailors, seamstresses, and textile workers who produced the garments themselves. These fashion plates, circulated widely, fueled a growing culture of consumption, connecting the elite to a vast network of production and desire. The focus here isn't simply on aesthetics, but on the economic and social forces driving the fashion industry.