Antique Parisian Dressed Fashion Engraving of Two Ladies in a Garden - 16½" x 14½"

This beautiful 19th-century French gravure habillée, or dressed engraving, features two fashionable women in a garden, their elaborate gowns brought to life with real fabrics, lace and carefully arranged trimmings applied to the original print. The illustration comes from La Mode Illustrée, although the magazine’s title, originally printed beneath the image, is now concealed by the frame’s inner border. One woman is seated in a cream dress with generous layers of ruffles edged in coral pink, while her companion wears a voluminous dusty-mauve gown, its generous folds outlined with ivory fabric trim that follows the curves of the dress, and a delicate black lace shawl. Behind them, trees and flowers frame a glimpse of a country house. Particularly appealing are the little flowers picked out in colored threads, extending the textile embellishment into the garden itself and bringing an unexpected sense of life to the scene.

A signature, apparently reading “Pimprenelle,” remains visible beneath the figures. The engraving is presented in a deep box frame combining gilt and ivory moldings with a vivid crimson-red border. The layered frame has an almost jewel-box quality, beautifully complementing the elaborate textile work and adding richness to the overall presentation. The paper and fabrics show some staining and discoloration, giving the piece a nostalgic, beautifully aged character. The handwritten date of 1868 on the reverse helps establish the period of both the prints and the costumes depicted.

The outdoor setting gives this example a different atmosphere from the more formal interiors typically associated with these fashion illustrations. The softly colored garden, embroidered flowers and extravagant dresses create a particularly pleasing combination of nature and fashion, with the fabrics adding texture and movement to the printed scene. There is something wonderfully evocative about the slightly faded colors and carefully worked details, preserving both the fashions and the decorative tastes of another era. Somewhere between fashion illustration, textile craftsmanship and decorative art, it would be especially appealing in a bedroom, dressing room or alongside antique portraits and botanical works on paper. 

Note : Other dressed engravings from the same collection, each featuring a different scene, are also available for individual purchase here.