The “Gibson Girl” was a pen-and-ink drawing by New York artist Charles Dana Gibson that first appeared in the 1890s. Characterized by her hourglass figure and soft hair piled into a chignon, the Gibson Girl represented the ideal American girl.
The Poor Man’s Portrait
The silhouette, sometimes referred to as the Poor Man’s Portrait, was a popular form of portraiture in Victorian England. Prior to the introduction of the photograph, painted portraits were reserved for the wealthy, requiring money and hours of sitting.
A Picnic in the Park
“It is to be all out of doors, a table spread in the shade, you know. Everything as natural and simple as possible.” –Jane Austen
While a picnic in Jane Austen’s time may have been a simpler affair, simplicity was certainly not the Victorians’ strong point.
