Louis Énault c. 19th century

Editor: This is Paul Gavarni's "Louis Énault," a portrait lithograph. The subject seems so self-assured, almost defiant. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Gavarni captures Énault with a gaze that speaks volumes about 19th-century masculinity and its performative aspects. Consider how his pose, attire, and facial hair construct a specific image of bourgeois authority. What does this tell us about the social expectations placed on men of his class? Editor: So, it's about more than just a portrait? Curator: Precisely. Gavarni's image engages with contemporary discourses surrounding gender, class, and power. Énault's very presentation is a statement. How do you think viewers at the time would have understood it? Editor: I hadn't considered all those layers. Thanks for pointing them out! Curator: It's in these layers where the true power of art lies—revealing the societal narratives embedded within.