He leaves Saturday c. 19th century

Editor: This is "He leaves Saturday" by Paul Gavarni. The woman looks very sad. What’s the story behind this image? Curator: Consider the date. Gavarni’s depictions of Parisian life were widely circulated in journals. This scene captures a fleeting moment of bourgeois domesticity, tinged with melancholy. The man’s departure implies anxieties about social mobility and the precariousness of relationships within a rapidly changing urban landscape. What do you make of the discarded handkerchief? Editor: It emphasizes her sadness, like a stage prop. It’s interesting how a simple drawing can convey so much about social pressures. Curator: Exactly. Gavarni used these intimate scenes to reflect broader societal shifts. It makes you wonder about the power dynamics at play.