Le Suprême Bon Ton, 1800-1815, No. 11: La famille anglaise à Paris. 1800 - 1815

Curator: Ah, yes! "La famille anglaise à Paris" – “The English Family in Paris.” Isn't it utterly fabulous? Look at it! Editor: It's certainly… striking. This print, dating from around 1800-1815, part of a series called "Le Suprême Bon Ton," is attributed to an anonymous artist and held in the Rijksmuseum. It feels like a send-up, a caricature almost, of this family. What's your take on what’s happening here? Curator: It's a playful skewering of cultural differences, wouldn't you say? Imagine stumbling upon this scene. We have these rather stiff, fashion-conscious English folks traipsing about in Paris. See how their clothing is exaggerated? Almost comical? How do you think a Parisian audience at the time might have reacted to this? Editor: I can imagine they’d be laughing! Especially at the exaggerated styles, almost like cartoon characters. Are they meant to represent actual people or types? Curator: Likely, it's the latter. These weren't portraits of specific individuals, more archetypes representing English affectations as perceived by the French. Do you pick up on any subtle… let’s say *digs*, beneath the surface? Editor: Well, there's a certain…awkwardness about them, as though they’re out of place. Maybe that’s what the artist intended to highlight: a cultural clash. Curator: Precisely! They're physically *in* Paris, but are they *of* Paris? Think of the political and social tensions of the time too—France and England were not exactly the best of friends! So, beneath the surface of fashion satire simmers something more. A commentary on national identity, maybe? Editor: That makes total sense. I see so much more in it now than just funny clothes! Thanks. Curator: Isn't art grand? A window into a world, but also a reflection of ourselves, even centuries later.