Nouveaux Travestissemens, 1830, No. 42 : Cameriste 1830

Paul Gavarni created this print titled, ‘Cameriste’ around 1830. It reflects the shifting sands of gender and class in post-Revolutionary France. Gavarni was a sharp observer of Parisian life, particularly interested in the ways identities were performed and negotiated through fashion. Here, a woman is depicted in costume. The title ‘Cameriste’ refers to a chambermaid or lady’s companion, yet the print is part of a series called ‘Nouveaux Travestissemens’ or ‘New Disguises.’ Is she a chambermaid playing dress up, or someone else entirely? The ambiguity invites us to consider the fluidity of social roles and the theatricality inherent in everyday life. The print offers a glimpse into the desires and aspirations of a society in flux, and highlights how clothing could be used to blur or reinforce social boundaries. The woman depicted occupies an intriguing space between performance and identity, leaving us to ponder the complexities of self-representation.