I guess there are many ways to interpret the painting. On a literal level, it shows a dressmaker and her client in the studio, or atelier. It's about the classic (and misogynistic) division between woman the beautiful and woman the useful. Yet both these women are beautiful, so it's a twist in a traditional idea!
On a psychological level, of course, the two women are one and the same; perhaps the dressmaker dreams of being richer (and afford to go to dressmakers herself). Perhaps it is the two sides of woman; women can be both beautiful objects and hard-working subjects. The mirror adds to the mystery. Who is looking at whom? Where is the artist in all of this?
Gender and feminist studies nowadays investigate sewing and dressmaking as an important part of women's history, and as significant female knowledge and skill. Seamstressing was a profession always available to women. Sewing knowledge and skills straddled class categories, as women from all classes learnt to sew.
As in this painting, sewing and dressmaking made woman both an object and subject. With her actions (making a dress) a woman could turn herself into an object of beauty.
Moreover, women were always active in the dressmaking, fashion and beauty business -- not only as employees, but most importantly as entrepreneurs. This is another area of research for gender and feminist studies.
I wish you all a beautiful night! More posts on women, sewing and fashion in the future xxx
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