Occupational Portrait of a Woman Working at a Sewing Machine, ca. 1853

    "Occupational Portrait of a Woman Working at a Sewing Machine," ca. 1853
    Courtesy of Library of Congress, "Occupational Portrait of a Woman Working at a Sewing Machine," ca. 1853

    Description

    A seamstress is a person who sews, someone who earns a living by sewing. At first, women's clothes were made at home by the ladies themselves, their servants or a professional seamstress. Fabrics, increasingly mass produced, became more affordable during the Industrial Revolution, and demand for clothes grew among the newly-wealthy, middle class women.

    Source-Dependent Questions

    • Look closely at the photo and describe what the woman is doing.
    • Before the Industrial Revolution, people would make and sew their clothing by hand. Based on what was noticed in the photo, how did a seamstress' job change after the Industrial Revolution?
    • With the invention of the sewing machine, clothing could be made more quickly and cheaply. How would this change the demand for clothes?

    Citation Information

    "Occupational Portrait of a Woman Working at a Sewing Machine," ca. 1853. Courtesy of Library of Congress

    Close

    Navigation