GRAVÜR DÜNYASI
Digital Engraving Library
| Date | 1883 |
| Technique | Lithography-Original Hand Colored |
| Category | Fashion |
| Source | Journal des Demoiselles - Dupuay imp. Paris |
Journal des Demoiselles was one of the most renowned women’s magazines published in 19th-century France. Founded in Paris in 1833, it appealed primarily to young girls (demoiselles). While covering topics such as fashion, literature, music, morality, education, and social etiquette, the magazine also served as a cultural guide shaping the era's understanding of female identity and elegance. It was noted for its colorful fashion engravings, sewing patterns, and illustrations of European fashion. Published for nearly a century (1833-1922), the Journal des Demoiselles emphasized themes of female education, elegance, and moral refinement in French bourgeois society and, like other magazines of the period (La Mode Illustrée, Le Follet, Les Modes Parisiennes, etc.), played a pioneering role in the development of the women's press. This elegant fashion engraving was published in the Journal des Demoiselles in November 1883. The engraving depicts three adult women. The woman in the center wears a red jacket and a patterned skirt. The fitted waist, buttoned details reminiscent of a military uniform, point to the image of the "active woman" of the time. This look is an early example of the "sporty elegance" preferred by women in public activities such as horseback riding and walking in the late 1880s. The feather embellishments on her hat symbolize status and elegance. The woman on the left wears a long dress in shades of gray and black. This model, with its fur collar, falls into the category of winter "visiting dress." The sheen and form of the fabric suggest it is made of silk or satin. The dress's simple yet noble design represents the restrained elegance of a mature and urban woman. The woman on the right wears a brown coat. This style of "outdoor coat" shows that functionality was beginning to take center stage in the cold-season fashion of the time. The coat's simple design heralds a shift in women's fashion, prioritizing comfort over appearance for the first time.
