Category: 1870-1879

Overview

1870-1879

1870-1879, 19th century, decade overview

All Entries

1875-1878 – Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta, Masqueraders

1870-1879, 19th century, artwork analysis

Raimundo Madrazo often played with historical dress and aesthetics in his paintings. Masqueraders offers a luxurious look at late 1870s fancy dress, and later paintings of the woman’s costume give insight into the change in fashion.

1870 – Berthe Morisot, The Pink Dress

1870-1879, 19th century, artwork analysis

Berthe Morisot’s portrait of teenager Marguerite Carré features a light pink ruffled day dress paired with black velvet and lace accessories, embodying the fashionable trends of 1870s Paris.

1872 – Emile Pingat, Visiting Dress

1870-1879, 19th century, garment analysis

Emile Pingat’s lavish visiting dresses were the height of fashion for decades; this one is eye-catching for its color-blocking, careful details, and complicated finishings.

1878 – James Tissot, Evening

1870-1879, 19th century, artwork analysis

Tissot paid close attention to dress details, but his habit of adding a personal flair into the design sometimes rendered his paintings somewhat out-of-step with contemporary fashion trends.

1870

1870-1879, 19th century, year overview

The year 1870 was characterized by an extensive use of vibrant, contrasting colors and ostentatious trims, tassels, and flounces. Emphasis was now placed on individual style over the following of trends. By juxtaposing the desire to be fashionable for the moment with the desire to find what looks good on one’s self, society at large saw wide variety in interpretations of fashionable dress.

1874 – Amédée François, Blue silk afternoon dress

1870-1879, 19th century, garment analysis

This afternoon dress, though not extravagant compared to some of the elaborately decorated gowns of 1874, proves to still be en vogue due to its bustled silhouette, tight-fitting bodice with an elongated waist, and decorated high neckline.

cuirass bodice

1870-1879, 1880-1889, 19th century, B, C, term definition

A form-fitting, long-waisted, boned bodice worn in the 1870s and 1880s–almost gives the appearance of armor as the name suggests.

1876-77 – Brass-colored silk day dress

1870-1879, 19th century, garment analysis

“Fashion is so liberal now, that provided a dress is sufficiently clinging, and tied back, anything else may be worn.” Peterson’s Magazine aptly sums up the fashions of 1876-77 and this brass-colored silk day dress.

1874 – Pierre-Auguste Renoir, La Loge

1870-1879, 19th century, artwork analysis

In Renoir’s Loge, he paints one of his favorite models Nini Lopez in a black and white striped dress in the context of a theater box–a fashionable dress style, but a questionable fit for the occasion. Her highly made-up face and disheveled hair also provoked discussion when the painting was exhibited at the Impressionists’ first group show in 1874.

1873 – Édouard Manet, The Railway

1870-1879, 19th century, artwork analysis

Édouard Manet’s Railway depicts modern life in Paris during 1873; he chose to feature his favorite model, Victorine Meurent, assessing the viewer in a simple navy blue twill dress–book in hand and puppy in lap. She is seated alongside a little girl clad in a white springtime dress with an oversized blue sash whose back is turned to the viewer as she’s observing the Gare Saint-Lazare on a warm day.

1870 – Green silk day dress with tassel trim

1870-1879, 19th century, garment analysis

This green silk day dress, patterned with an abstracted floral design, displays aspects of style associated with the early 1870s. Its bustle silhouette, vibrant hue, and abundance of trimmings all speak to its fashionability and provide an insight into the trends of the year.

1872 – Mon. Vignon, Silk day dress

1870-1879, 19th century, garment analysis

The early 1870s were characterized by bustles, square necklines, sleeves that flare at the wrist, jacket-style bodices, the appearance of aprons, asymmetry, and flounces, frills, and ruffles. This ca. 1872 silk day dress designed by Mon. Vignon is the perfect example of a fashionable early 1870s garment.