Les Propos de Thomas Vireloque: Misère-et-corde! 1852

"Les Propos de Thomas Vireloque: Misère-et-corde!" is a lithograph by French artist Paul Gavarni, created in 1852. The lithograph depicts a group of men in a woodland setting, engaged in a scene of poverty and despair. The work is a social commentary on the struggles of the working class in 19th-century France. Gavarni's signature style of caricature and social realism is evident in the exaggerated features and expressions of the figures. The lithograph's title, "Misère-et-corde!" is a play on words, meaning both "misery" and "rope", suggesting the desperation and precariousness of their lives. The Art Institute of Chicago houses this artwork.