Husbands Always Make Me Laugh: My husband's latest passion 1853

Paul Gavarni made this print, "Husbands Always Make Me Laugh: My husband's latest passion," in France in the mid-19th century. It captures a seemingly innocuous moment of domesticity. Two women, fashionable for their time, are depicted, perhaps engaged in conversation or shared amusement. But what does it mean to represent women within the confines of marriage and domestic life? Gavarni was a keen observer of Parisian society, and his works often reflect the changing social dynamics of the time. The title itself suggests a certain irony or critique of marital expectations. Is Gavarni commenting on the limited roles available to women? To understand this work fully, we might delve into French social history, exploring the legal and cultural constraints placed on women, and we could examine the emerging feminist discourses of the era. By understanding the social context, we can appreciate the image not merely as a record of fashion or manners, but as a subtle commentary on the social structures of its time.