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