1869 Walking Dresses Le Follet

Larger image

I have no idea what that chair is doing in the middle of a garden, but I am completely charmed by this print, randomly placed chair and all. This is beautiful scanned, but I wish you could hold the original because it is incredible. It’s when you look at the teeny delicate brushstrokes that give the appearance of silks and laces that you can see what amazing artists these lithographers were. It is a very commercial art, it is true, but a very beautiful one.

This is, at this time, my favorite fashion plate. I love the romanticism of this. The bold colors, rich textures. These ladies all have such wistful looks on their faces. Not in a damsel in distress way, as each of the three looks intelligent and capable, but like they are all longing for something better.

Unfortunately, I do not have a fashion description for this plate.

Purchased on ebay as a loose fashion plate, December 2010.

1869 Visiting and Receiving Fashions Le Follet

I like my fashion plates a bit fussy. While I’m sure having too much detail or too many figures in the image detracts from the fashion itself, which is the point of the fashion plate, I delight in the little details. This Le Follet does not disappoint. I love how it captures everything from the texture of the dresses to the pattern of the rug to the intricate details of the furniture. It makes me want to drink tea from a china tea set that I don’t even own.

This comes from the British edition of Le Follet. The artist is Anais Colin Toudouze, who became from a family of artists and lithographers.* I do not have a description of the fashions depicted.



Larger image

*Information is from the ebay listing.

Purchased on ebay as a loose fashion plate, December 2010.