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Machine for Tight Lacing
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Machine for Tight Lacing
Satire on the fashion for tight corsets - A correct view of the new machine for winding up the ladies Date: circa 1830
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Media ID 20142083
© Bubblepunk
%unrestricted 1830 1830s Apollo Correct Corset Corsets Gigot Knot Lacing Lamb Mutton Narrow Puff Puffed Satire Sleeve Sleeves Tight Underwear Waist Waists Winding
EDITORS COMMENTS
This intriguing photograph, titled "A Correct View of the New Machine for Winding Up the Ladies: Machine for Tight Lacing, Circa 1830," offers a satirical take on the fashion trend of the time for tight corsets. The image depicts a machine with various contraptions and levers, suggesting the device is designed to help women achieve the coveted small waists and hourglass figures that were in vogue during the 1830s. The machine is shown with a woman in the background, her back turned to the viewer, as she appears to be struggling to lace up her tight corset. The woman's outfit is a testament to the extreme fashion of the era, with a puffed sleeve, gigot sleeve, and a narrow waist. Her corset, which is being wound up by the machine, is so tight that it resembles a straightjacket more than undergarment. The woman's face is contorted in pain, and her hands are clenched in discomfort. The satirical tone of the photograph is emphasized by the inclusion of various absurdities in the machine's design. For instance, there is a knob labeled "Apollo's Knot," which suggests that the machine is capable of creating the perfect corset knot, a feat that was considered an art form during the 1830s. There is also a lever labeled "Mutton to Lamb," which implies that the machine can transform a woman's figure from plump to slender with a simple pull. The photograph is a commentary on the unhealthy and often painful fashion trends of the time, which placed an unrealistic emphasis on women's bodies. The machine, with its absurd design and promises of instant transformation, is a reminder of the absurdity of these trends and the harm they caused. Despite the satire, it is important to remember that the fashion for tight corsets was a serious issue, and many women suffered from health problems as a result of wearing them.
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