Le Goût du Jour, No. 21: Les Modernes Incroyables, from "Caricatures Parisiennes" 1810 - 1820

Georges Jacques Gatine made this hand-colored etching in France. It's titled "Le Goût du Jour, No. 21: Les Modernes Incroyables," or "The Taste of the Day, No. 21: The Incredible Moderns". This print presents a satirical view of Parisian fashion around the turn of the 19th century. The figures represent "Les Incroyables," a group known for their extreme, eccentric style following the French Revolution. The high collars, exaggerated lapels, and tight trousers were intended to signal a break from aristocratic norms. But the absurdity of the style also offered commentary on the new social order, hinting at the superficiality of post-revolutionary culture. To understand Gatine's caricature, historians look at fashion plates, journals, and other visual and textual sources. These help us decode the symbols and understand the social context in which these images were made and consumed. Ultimately, Gatine's print serves as a reminder that art is always embedded in a specific time and place.