Ci-devant Occupations; or, Madame Talian and the Empress Josephine Dancing Naked before Barrass in the Winter of 1797. - A Fact! 1805

James Gillray created this hand-colored etching, "Ci-devant Occupations," as political satire. It reflects the tumultuous times of post-revolutionary France. The print lampoons Madame Tallien, a prominent social figure, and Empress Joséphine, Napoleon Bonaparte's wife, depicting them dancing naked for Paul Barras, a leading figure of the Directory. Gillray uses caricature to critique the perceived moral decay and political corruption of the French Directory. He intertwines gender and power by portraying these women as performers for powerful men, challenging their agency. The inclusion of Napoleon peeking from behind a curtain adds another layer, suggesting voyeurism and political intrigue. Gillray perpetuates a narrative that links female sexuality to political manipulation and the instability of the French regime. But there is also something undeniably titillating about this image, and that tension animates the print and makes it a lasting comment on both empire and gender.