Revealing the Feminine: Fashion and Appearances in the 18th Century explores how femininity was constructed, represented, and redefined during the Age of Enlightenment in France (late 18th century). The exhibition at the charming Musée Cognacq-Jay is a collaboration with the Palais Galliera and their current exhibition; 18th Century Fashion: A Fantasised Legacy. A considered collection of paintings, historical garments, accessories, and textiles examine how clothing shaped women's identities and social status in 18th-century France and across Europe.
Alongside earlier idealised pastoral scenes and fête galante scenes by François Boucher and Antoine Watteau, paintings by artists such as Maurice Quentin de La Tour, Jean-Marc Nattier, the incredible Adélaïde Labille-Guiard, and her wonderful contemporary Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, highlight not only the luxurious fabrics and elaborate dress of the period but also increasingly nuanced portrayals of women, which helped redefine ideals of femininity while reflecting the changing tastes of the period.
The exhibition featured a lovely collection of paruriers, the gorgeous embellishments used to adorn stomachers and the neckline with confections of ribbon, lace and silk flowers.
