It's also interesting to see what they could not envision. For example, they obviously could not imagine that women could wear anything other than a dress.
(and no, the paris decree does not count). There were female marketed "trousers" appearing in the 1850s, so it is clearly completely retarded to suggest that the french artists "couldnt envision women wearing pants".
But carry on with the official party line, but do so knowingly that it is fake.
There are three different "could"s in the comment to which you're replying.
I think, had your comment included the second paragraph, it would have been much more useful.
I also highly doubt there was a 100% universally shared view on female pants at the time.