Petit Courrier des Dames, 20 mai 1844, No. 2016 : Robes d'étoff (...) 1844

This print titled, *Petit Courrier des Dames*, was created in 1844. Although the artist is unknown, the lithographic print, with its delicate application of color, presents us with a tableau of 19th-century fashion. The composition is structured around two female figures, each adorned in elaborate dresses that epitomize the period's sartorial aesthetics. The standing figure to the left commands attention with her voluminous green gown, its layered construction creating a play of light and shadow. In contrast, the seated figure on the right is draped in a cascading blue dress. The texture of the fabrics, rendered through the intricate linework, invites a semiotic reading, where clothing functions as a signifier of status and cultural identity. This image uses both color and form to communicate ideas about femininity, class, and the commercialization of fashion during a transformative period. It prompts us to question how such visual representations both reflect and shape societal values.