Health & Beauty
Cut Paper Illustration set in Handmade Box, 6 x 8.5 in (closed)
When corseting became popular in the 1800′s it was initially advertised as a wellness trend, providing support to the spine and core muscles - restricting women from overexerting themselves - in addition to slimming the waist. Eventually the slimming technique was taken to the extreme, and an obsession with tiny waists took hold. Depending on the regiment and tightness women would end up with tiny waists - as well as severe hunger and shortness of breath, as organs were squeezed and restricted. Muscles and bones could be irrevocably altered, especially if corseting started at a young age.
Held in Private Collection