Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens, 1913, No. 127 : Parure d'hermin (...) 1913

Editor: This mixed-media print, *Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens, 1913, No. 127 : Parure d'hermine (...)* by Loeze, showcases a stylish woman in luxurious furs. The image itself feels so staged, almost like a catalog. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: I notice immediately the blatant display of wealth through the exploitation of animal materials. The title tells us explicitly, *Parure d'hermine et putois*, Hermine and polecat, flaunting the source materials themselves as status symbols. Editor: That's interesting. I was just seeing "fashion," but you're making me think about the labor and industry behind these "Costumes Parisiens." Curator: Exactly. The printmaking process itself becomes relevant. Think about the etchers, the paper manufacturers, the distributors – all contributing to this cycle of consumption. Consider how the magazine functioned as a tool for disseminating aspirational imagery to a growing consumer class. Editor: So, it's not just about the woman or her clothes, but about the entire system that produces and circulates these images? Curator: Precisely! The artistic labor involved, combined with the literal materials that construct the garments shown, all become points of interest. Who benefits from the production and distribution, and at what cost to the animals or those in the factories making this accessible to middle class woman, become questions we have to address to really appreciate the piece. Editor: That reframes my entire perspective. I initially saw just an elegant illustration, but I now see it as a document of early 20th-century consumerism and its associated labor. Curator: The real subject is less about style but more the socio-economic machine needed to promote it, a very valuable reflection, right? Editor: Definitely. Thanks, this was enlightening!