Jacques Maubourguet, you wanted to make a man out of your boy, who wasn't anything but a good-for-nothing! But now he is a Viscount ... of Maubourguet! Jacques, my man, there is only one God! I'd like to shake his Viscount-ness ... and no later than right away!, p. 18 c. 19th century

Curator: This is a print by Paul Gavarni, dating from around the mid-19th century. The full title is quite a mouthful, something about "making a man" and shaking a Viscount! Editor: It looks like a snapshot from a bar, maybe? The central figure seems weighed down, while the others are mere blurs in the background. Curator: Gavarni was known for documenting Parisian life, and this piece likely reflects social tensions of the time. We see the rise of new wealth clashing with older structures of power. Editor: The etching is raw, almost frenetic. You can sense the artist's hand and the speed of production, typical of prints meant for wider consumption. Curator: Absolutely. The printmaking process democratized art, enabling social commentary to reach a broad audience, which makes it a fascinating artifact of its time. Editor: It leaves me pondering how social mobility—or the lack of it—shapes our perception of each other, even today.