Chap. II: Je ne me reconnais plus (I No Longer Recognize Myself) 1824

Victor Adam created this lithograph entitled "Chap. II: Je ne me reconnais plus," or "I No Longer Recognize Myself" at an unknown date. It is a French piece, capturing a scene of social transformation and perhaps self-alienation. The print depicts a man being fitted for a suit, attended by a tailor, while onlookers observe the spectacle. Made during the rise of the bourgeoisie in France, the artwork offers a commentary on social mobility and the adoption of new identities through clothing. The phrase ‘I no longer recognize myself’ suggests the sitter is somewhat unnerved by his transformation into someone of higher status. The image uses visual cues to convey meaning, drawing upon cultural associations with fashion, class, and self-perception. This work highlights how institutions like fashion and commerce played a role in shaping individual identities. To better understand this artwork, one might delve into archives documenting French fashion and social customs of the time. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional context.