Caricature by Cappiello of Madame De Latude 1900

This caricature of Madame de Latude, by Leonetto Cappiello, was made at a time when print media was flourishing, and artists like Cappiello found avenues for social commentary through caricature. Here, Madame de Latude, also known as Gyp, stands as a figure of both high society and controversial opinion. Cappiello captures her distinctive style but also hints at the complexities of her identity, noting "trente-cinq minutes de captivité"—thirty-five minutes of captivity. It's a detail that suggests a fleeting glimpse into her world. Cappiello highlights the tension between public persona and private self. As a writer known for her conservative and often polemical views, Gyp navigated a society that both celebrated and scrutinized women in the public sphere. Cappiello's caricature invites us to reflect on how women of the time were perceived and how they used fashion and persona to assert their presence. The image is a snapshot of a society grappling with changing roles and expectations, filtered through the sharp lens of caricature.