Tableau Général du Goût, An 7, No. 17 (20 jan. 1799): Chapeau de velours, palatine de peau de renard (...) 1799

Editor: Here we have an ink drawing titled "Tableau Général du Goût…", made in 1799. What immediately grabs me is the figure’s almost comically oversized muff! What can you tell us about this caricature, especially its context? Curator: Oh, she's quite a character, isn’t she? This piece whispers tales of late 18th-century French society—a time when fashion wasn't just clothing; it was a statement, a battlefield even! Think of it as a playful jab at the excesses of the "nouveau riche" post-revolution. I wonder, does that immense muff look more like protection or…compensation to you? Editor: That's interesting! I hadn't thought about it as post-revolutionary commentary; I saw the outsized fur piece as simply impractical! How much of the artistic style adds to the comedic effect? Curator: The artist’s delicate lines mixed with blatant exaggeration? Essential! The Romanticism peeking through softens the edges, just enough to keep it cheeky rather than cruel. Can you see the artist’s pen dancing across the page, almost giggling? But underneath the playful exterior beats a subtle critique, a hint of the unease bubbling beneath the surface of that era. It's as if they're asking, "Are we taking ourselves just a little too seriously?" Editor: So, beneath the humour, it’s social commentary? The artwork's layers were not obvious at first glance! Curator: Exactly! Much like a well-layered outfit of the time! What seemed absurd then probably holds some truth for us even today! I will view fashion in the broader society with renewed awareness of how personal choice conveys messages on an emotional level, whether intentionally or not. What is your lasting impression now? Editor: I see how fashion can function as communication and can sometimes be a humorous reflection of ourselves, as society! Thanks for opening my eyes to that point of view!