Heures Du Soir. Mlle. Laure Deveria c. 1830

Editor: Here we have "Heures Du Soir. Mlle. Laure Deveria" by Achille Devéria, from around 1830. It's a print with watercolor, portraying a woman in a lavish dress. The detail in the fabric is remarkable. What strikes me is how this work, though a portrait, seems so much about the dress itself. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Indeed. The representation of textiles, of materials themselves, is key here. Consider the burgeoning textile industry of the time and how prints like these played a crucial role in circulating fashion trends among the aspiring middle class. The labor invested in creating and adorning that dress—think of seamstresses, embroiders, and lacemakers—becomes almost as visible as the sitter herself. It really puts a focus on the burgeoning material culture of the 19th century. Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn’t considered the connection to the textile industry. So, the print functions almost as a catalog or advertisement? Curator: In a way, yes. More than a static portrait, the image is actively involved in the exchange of desires and the marketing of commodities. The choice of watercolor also makes the textures so believable. It invites the viewer to imagine possessing such finery, to partake in this newly accessible world of luxury. Who is creating that? Who has the ability to purchase and own that, and how does that further separate classes? Editor: So, it's less about immortalizing an individual and more about showcasing material aspirations and how labor and craft shape it? Curator: Precisely. Devéria is not just portraying a woman but documenting and fueling a system of production and consumption. Editor: I hadn't considered the labor and production element. Thanks for shedding light on that material dimension. Curator: My pleasure! Looking at the art in terms of material shifts gives the image context into the cultural mindset and economic system of the time.