Corset 1870 - 1874

This is a Corset made by the Royal Worcester Corset Company. The garment's stark white fabric contrasts against the black background, and the eye is immediately drawn to the geometric interplay of lines and voids. The corset is structured through a series of parallel bands, intersected by diagonal supports that create a grid-like pattern. This pattern, while seemingly rigid, is softened by the corset's hourglass shape. The form alludes to a subversion of traditional notions of support and constraint. It's a structure that both confines and liberates, shaping the body while simultaneously revealing it through the negative spaces. The corset functions as a cultural signifier, embodying societal expectations around gender, beauty, and control. Here, the Royal Worcester Corset Company challenges fixed meanings. The corset’s aesthetic value lies not only in its functional design, but also in its dialogue with evolving perceptions of the body.