Fashion Plate 199 by an anonymous French artist

Fashion Plate 199 by an anonymous French artist

c.1826-1828

Hand-colored Engraving

This hand-colored fashion plate presents a focused study of nineteenth-century women’s headdresses, arranged in a compositional format of three figures on the upper register and three on the lower. Each figure is shown with careful attention to both front and rear views, allowing the viewer to observe the construction, volume, and decorative structure of the hats from multiple perspectives. The designs emphasize elaborate millinery techniques, including sculptural hat forms, ostrich feathers, and cascading ribbons, which define the visual impact of each piece. While elements of fashionable dress such as puffed sleeves, lace collars, and refined daywear silhouettes are also visible, the primary emphasis remains on the headdresses as expressions of craftsmanship, fashion innovation, and contemporary taste.

Published in Paris during the Restoration era, this plate exemplifies the role of fashion publishing in disseminating the latest trends prior to the advent of photography. Such prints were produced through a collaborative process involving artists, engravers, and colorists, translating ephemeral sartorial innovations into finely detailed and collectible images. The Journal des Dames et des Modes was among the most influential fashion periodicals of its time, shaping taste across Europe and documenting the rapid evolution of elite dress. These plates are now valued not only for their aesthetic refinement but also for their documentary significance, offering insight into shifting ideals of femininity, textile luxury, and social presentation in early nineteenth-century France.

Dimensions: H 8 ⅛” x 5 1/2 “ W

Condition: In very good condition