Incroyables et Merveilleuses, 1811, Incroyable, No. 10: Chapeau à petit bord plat (...). 1811

Georges Jacques Gatine created this hand-colored engraving titled "Incroyables et Merveilleuses" around 1811, capturing a slice of French society in the aftermath of their revolution. The "Incroyables" (incredibles) and their female counterparts, the "Merveilleuses" (marvelous women), emerged as fashion tribes, signaling a rejection of aristocratic norms and an embrace of republican values. This figure, with his exaggerated collar, deliberately unkempt hairstyle, and unconventional attire, embodies a spirit of rebellion and self-expression. Their clothing often referenced classical antiquity. But fashion, of course, is always more than just clothes. These "Incroyables" were also using fashion to negotiate complex social and political terrain, to define a new vision of French identity in a world irrevocably changed by revolution. They seem to be asking, "What does it mean to be French now?" And perhaps more importantly, "Who gets to decide?" Fashion can then become a subtle but potent tool of empowerment and resistance, and the artist captures this tension perfectly.