Incroyables et Merveilleuses, 1810, Incroyable, No. 1: Chapeau en bateau (...) 1810

Georges Jacques Gatine created "Incroyables et Merveilleuses" around 1810 using etching and watercolour. The figure, with its exaggerated costume, is set against a muted backdrop, emphasizing the lines and shapes of the clothing. Gatine’s work reflects a fascination with the semiotics of fashion. The exaggerated proportions—the high-waisted coat with puffed sleeves, the wide-brimmed hat, and the tightly fitted trousers—speak to a culture of excess. The figure's posture, leaning slightly with a hand raised to the face, adds to the performative aspect, as if he is keenly aware of being observed. The colour palette, dominated by soft browns and creams, lends an air of affected nonchalance. Gatine captures a moment in time when clothing became a powerful signifier of social identity and a playful commentary on the shifting boundaries of gender and class.