The women’s athletic suit from the late 19th century sparked public debate, sitting at the intersection of canons of feminine modesty and the functionality of sportswear. Athletic attire, such as blousons and stockings, revealed more than was customary, but it was considered so practical and unadorned in terms of attractiveness that its provocative nature was conditional—it symbolized a challenge to conventions more than a threat to morality. The conflict surrounding it reflected the tension between traditional notions of womanhood and women’s pursuit of physical activity and self-assertion.
Original size 2480x1750
Original size 2480x1750
Original size 2480x1750
Original size 2480x1750
Original size 2480x1750
Original size 2480x1750
Original size 2480x1750
