Magasin des Demoiselles, 25 fevrier 1870 1870

J. Desjardins created "Magasin des Demoiselles, 25 fevrier 1870" as a print for a monthly journal in Paris during a period marked by significant social and political change. This piece offers us a glimpse into the world of bourgeois women and children and the trappings of femininity, during the Second Empire in France. Two women are depicted in elaborate gowns, embodying the era's fashion ideals, while a child plays with a toy carriage, hinting at themes of domesticity and innocence. The illustration is interesting in that it reflects and perpetuates the gender and class dynamics of the time. Middle-class status is expressed through the leisure activities and material possessions of the subjects. "Magasin des Demoiselles" prompts us to consider how representations of women and childhood are constructed and circulated, reinforcing particular social norms, and the emotional labor involved in maintaining these appearances. Consider the ways in which the image shapes or reflects societal expectations around femininity, class, and consumer culture, while acknowledging its personal and intimate dimensions.