Modes de Paris - Journal des Demoiselles
Mixed media paper collage and print (Paper Dolled Fashion Plate) • Published by Journal des Demoiselles, Paris; illustration likely by Jules David or Anaïs Toudouze
Style & Movement
Second Empire / Late Victorian Fashion Illustration
Medium & Technique
Hand-colored steel engraving with 3D fabric application (silk, satin, and lace overlays) on paper
Creation Period
Original print circa 1860-1870; 3D fabric embellishments likely contemporary to the print or added by late Victorian hobbyists
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 x 15 inches including frame; vertical portrait format
Subject Description
Three Victorian women in an interior setting near a piano; focusing on high-society evening wear. Two figures in the foreground have gowns embellished with physical pleated fabric (pink and yellow), while the third sits at the piano in blue fabric.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; shows typical signs of age-related degradation
Estimated Market Value
$75 - $150 USD
Auction Estimate
$50 - $125 USD
Provenance History
Likely sourced from a French fashion periodical (Journal des Demoiselles, founded 1833) and later framed as a decorative parlor piece; common in 19th-century European and American domestic interiors
Art Historical Significance
A charming example of the 19th-century 'Paper Doll' or fabric-embellished fashion plate, illustrating the intersection of commercial fashion publication and domestic handicraft/amateur art during the Second Empire.
Notable Features
Features the masthead of 'Journal des Demoiselles' at the bottom; the use of physical pleated fabric to create a three-dimensional effect is a highly collectible folk-art variation of standard flat fashion prints.
Condition Issues
Visible foxing (brown spots) and yellowing of the paper support; fading of pigments; some fraying and potential dust accumulation on the exposed silk and lace elements; slight frame wear
Conservation Recommendations
Recommend replacing the current glass with UV-protective glass to prevent further silk shattering and pigment fading. Ensure acid-free matting is used to prevent further paper foxing.