Comme vous faites belle, ma chère? ... c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph titled "Comme vous faites belle, ma chère?..." during a period of significant social and political change in France. As the title "The Socialist Women" indicates, it reflects the evolving roles of women in the 19th century, particularly within socialist circles. Daumier uses satire to comment on the perceived conflict between socialist ideals and the vanity associated with traditional feminine beauty standards. We see one woman lacing another tightly into a corset, a symbol of constraint, while the other comments that she is going to a banquet, and that Pierre Leroux is very fussy about dress. The print invites us to consider how gender, class, and political ideology intersect, challenging the notion that women involved in progressive movements must abandon all interest in appearance. It compels us to reflect on the complexities of identity, and how individuals navigate societal expectations while striving for social change. What does it mean to embrace socialist ideals while also engaging with conventional beauty practices?