Echte fee 1893 - 1894

This colour lithograph, titled "A Real Fairy," was produced by Imagerie d'Épinal, a French printmaking company, sometime in the nineteenth century. It uses sequential imagery, similar to early comic strips, to tell a story. Here, we see the visual codes of class and status at play. The main character, initially a poor boy, is visited by a fairy who promises him wealth and success if he remains virtuous. We see him rise through the ranks – becoming a soldier, a leader, and eventually a rich man. The image reinforces societal values, suggesting that hard work and morality are the keys to social mobility. Prints like these were popular and widely distributed, influencing social attitudes. They provide a fascinating window into the aspirations and moral frameworks of nineteenth-century French society. Understanding this image further requires research into the history of Imagerie d'Épinal, popular print culture, and the social values prevalent at the time. The image's meaning is truly unlocked when viewed within its historical context.