Localizando uma peça no tempo: Blusa 063 no acervo de indumentária do Museu Mariano Procópio (MMP)

Abstract

The main goal of this piece of work is to determine the period and context of an undated item in the clothing collection of the Mariano Procópio Museum (MMP). In order to achieve this, we compared images of chemisettes from the catalogs of the prestigious Au Bon Marché department store during the Belle Époque period of 1900­1907, with photographs that provide detailed views of the garment's design, taken during a technical visit to the museum's collection. To begin, a conceptual introduction is provided regarding the body, clothing, and fashion. It also explores the strong connection between bourgeois women and fashion during the early 20th century, highlighting how these meanings continue to endure even in the absence of the physical body. It also briefly discusses the relationship between fashion and museums, highlighting the symbolic significance of clothing objects in a municipal historical museum like the MMP. It also addresses the lack of data as a part of the silences in women's history. Based on the evidence, it can be inferred that Blouse 063 is likely a chemisette­style blouse intended for home wear. It was probably worn by a bourgeois woman belonging to the local elite.