Twee zwervers vragen geld aan een rijke heer 1843

This print, *Two Tramps Asking a Rich Lord for Money*, was made by Paul Gavarni in the 19th century. It is an example of lithography, a printmaking process using a flat stone or metal plate on which the image areas are worked using a greasy substance, so that the ink will adhere to them, while the non-image areas are made ink-repellent. The physical properties of lithography are integral to its cultural meaning. The stark black lines against the pale background create a sense of immediacy and contrast, a quickness that mirrors the economic disparities of the time. It reflects a society sharply divided by wealth. The making of lithographs made possible the rapid dissemination of images, fueling public discourse on pressing social issues such as inequality, class, and poverty. By focusing on the techniques and materials used to create this print, we can understand the important role of prints, and question the traditional hierarchy of art.