Fashion Plate 421 by an anonymous French artist

Fashion Plate 421 by an anonymous French artist

c.1826-1828

Hand-colored Engraving

PR0152-11

This hand-colored fashion plate from Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens (1826–1828) depicts a moment of stylistic transition in early nineteenth-century French dress, moving from Neoclassical restraint toward the more expressive forms of Romantic fashion. The composition presents two elegantly attired female figures. One wears a light green muslin dress paired with drop earrings, its soft silhouette refined by a fitted bodice and gently expanded skirt. The second figure appears in a pink redingote of gros d’Orient. Both ensembles reflect evolving silhouettes characterized by widening skirts, sloped shoulders, and the emergence of exaggerated “gigot” sleeves, which narrow at the wrist to emphasize volume at the upper arm. Elaborate collars, often wide, ruffled, or scalloped, further frame the face and complete the period’s emphasis on structured ornamentation.

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 with light ink offset