Le Corset c. 1852 - 1853

Adolphe Mouilleron created "Le Corset," a print now held at the Rijksmuseum. The composition centres on a woman, her back turned, struggling with the laces of her corset. The palette is muted, dominated by greys and pinks, which enhances the atmosphere of intimacy and constraint. The corset itself functions here as a signifier, its tight structure reflecting the social constraints placed upon women. The woman's downcast gaze and the awkward angle of her arms suggest a sense of struggle and perhaps a desire for liberation. Yet, Mouilleron’s print does not simply depict oppression; it also captures a moment of private defiance. Consider the discarded rose on the floor, a symbol of beauty and freedom, juxtaposed with the rigid form of the corset. The woman’s figure, though bound, exudes a quiet strength. "Le Corset" becomes a commentary on the complex interplay between societal expectations and individual agency.