The New Fashion. Which is the man, which is the woman?... make your guess if you can and choose if you dare, plate 270 from Actualités 1856

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, "The New Fashion", in the 19th century. Its sharp lines and monochrome palette convey a biting commentary on societal gender roles. The composition divides the figures starkly; a tall, imposing figure on the left clashes with a more elaborate figure on the right, challenging viewers to question traditional gender expectations through an almost theatrical contrast. The deliberate ambiguity, enhanced by exaggerated costumes, destabilizes conventional understandings of male and female identities. Daumier uses fashion as a signifier, complicating our reading of identity. This print functions as a mirror, reflecting shifting cultural norms and the fluidity of identity. It compels a re-evaluation of binary constructs and celebrates the destabilization of fixed social meanings.