Graaf ontslaat dienstmeid 1843

"Graaf ontslaat dienstmeid" (1843), by Paul Gavarni is a lithograph which depicts a man in the act of dismissing his maid. The artwork, which has a romantic and satirical quality, is part of Gavarni’s series "Les Lorettes", a collection of satirical lithographs that depicted scenes of Parisian life. The series, which was created for the Parisian newspaper "Le Charivari", was known for its witty and satirical illustrations of the city's elite. The print is a poignant reminder of the social conventions of the era, when wealthy gentlemen often had maids at their beck and call. The man's gesture is one of both dismissal and regret, suggesting a complex and perhaps conflicted relationship between the two.