Le Goût du Jour, No. 21: Les Modernes Incroyables, from "Caricatures Parisiennes"

Art Historical Context

This hand-colored etching from around 1815 captures the flamboyant world of post-Revolutionary Paris through the lens of caricature. Created by publisher Aaron Martinet and engraver Georges Jacques Gatine as part of the series *Caricatures Parisiennes*, the print belongs to the “Le Goût du Jour” sequence, which chronicled the latest fashions and social types of the day. Titled *Les Modernes Incroyables*, it depicts the exaggerated styles of young men known as the “Incroyables,” whose tight coats, voluminous cravats, and affected poses became symbols of the era’s shifting social codes after Napoleon’s fall. Etching allowed artists like Gatine to produce sharp lines and lively details that were then delicately tinted by hand, making each impression both affordable and visually striking. Such prints circulated widely among the Parisian public, serving as both entertainment and subtle commentary on contemporary manners. Today, this work in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection offers a vivid glimpse into how fashion and satire intertwined in early nineteenth-century France, preserving the playful yet pointed spirit of the period’s street life.