You don't know Dachu's aunt? . . . and you say that you know women! c. 19th century

Curator: This is a lithograph by Paul Gavarni, dating probably from the mid-19th century, titled "You don't know Dachu's aunt? . . . and you say that you know women!". Editor: It feels claustrophobic, doesn't it? That roughly hewn table, the way they’re hunched together... it’s a world shrunk down to the size of that bottle between them. Curator: Absolutely. Gavarni was a master of capturing Parisian life, and here, the scene's raw materiality speaks volumes. The cheap drinks, the worn clothes – this is about labor, leisure, and the social fabric of the working class. Editor: And the unspoken story! What is it about Dachu’s aunt that holds so much weight? Is she a symbol? Or just the punchline of an inside joke, guarding some secret knowledge? Curator: Could be both. Gavarni's lithographs were reproduced widely, making social commentary accessible. He’s not just depicting a scene but engaging in a larger dialogue about class and identity. Editor: It’s amazing how much you can extract from the material and social conditions surrounding a simple drawing. Curator: Agreed. And for me, it’s always a question of what isn’t said. It leaves space for our own stories, our own interpretations.