Les Tortures de la Mode, ca. 1848, No. 19 : Cheveux à la Titus (...) c. 1848

Cham created this lithograph entitled, "Les Tortures de la Mode," around 1848, which translates to "The Tortures of Fashion." Through satire, Cham addresses the societal pressures inflicted upon women during this era, particularly within the confines of bourgeois Parisian society. The print serves as a sharp commentary on the ridiculous and often painful lengths to which individuals, especially women, went to adhere to the ever-changing dictates of fashion. The artist skillfully uses caricature to depict the physical and emotional toll of these trends, highlighting the absurdity of sacrificing comfort and well-being for the sake of appearance. The fashion depicted constrains women physically, trapping them in an aesthetic ideal that demands suffering. As we consider this image, it is important to reflect on the cultural norms that dictate our behaviors and how fashion both shapes and reflects societal expectations and personal identity. We can ask ourselves, how far would we go to fit in?