Magasin des Demoiselles, 25 février 1850 1850

J. Desjardins created this print titled, *Magasin des Demoiselles*, on February 25, 1850. Published in a fashion magazine, the print offers a glimpse into the world of bourgeois femininity in mid-19th century France. Here, we see two women indoors, surrounded by markers of middle-class domesticity. One woman, seated in a plush chair, is dressed in darker colors. The other, in a white dress with embellishments, leans in, her hand almost touching the seated woman’s hand. The visual suggestion of contact, however slight, emphasizes the personal relationship between the two women. Fashion plates like these idealized the feminine, while also shaping the era’s gendered expectations around appearance, domesticity, and social status. The image develops a narrative of female interaction, subtly highlighting themes of intimacy and connection within the confines of societal norms. The work serves as a visual record, reflecting and shaping the cultural values and emotional landscapes of its time.