L'Élegant Coeffeure de Dames, allant au grand Salon 1778

Pierre Charles Ingouf created this print, “L'Élegant Coeffeure de Dames, allant au grand Salon,” during an era of dramatic social upheaval and transformation in France. Ingouf made this print amidst a period of intense scrutiny of gender roles and social hierarchies. With a confident swagger, the dandy occupies the majority of the frame; his clothing and accouterments are meticulously detailed. The print offers a window into the visual culture of the late 18th century, reflecting the period’s preoccupation with fashion and social status, as well as the emerging concept of the male ‘figure’. The elegant man, with his powdered wig and fashionable attire, would likely have been viewed as embodying the ideals of aristocratic refinement and sophistication. The image begs the question: does the print celebrate or satirize the superficiality of the French elite? Ultimately, this image encapsulates the complex interplay between personal identity, social expectations, and the looming specter of revolution in late 18th-century France.