Les-Parents-Terribles series: A fine creature—and no corsets 1852 - 1853

Paul Gavarni made this lithograph, titled 'A fine creature—and no corsets,' in France, sometime in the mid-19th century. Lithography is a printmaking process that relies on the resistance between grease and water, which requires specific materials. The artist would have drawn on a flat limestone surface with a greasy crayon, then treated the stone so that ink only adhered to the drawn areas before printing. The resulting image has a spontaneous, sketchy quality, with varied line weights and textures, which allowed Gavarni to create atmospheric effects and capture the characters' expressions. The process is critical to understanding the print’s social meaning. Lithography was a relatively affordable and quick method of printmaking, which meant that Gavarni’s images could be widely distributed in newspapers and journals. The image is a wry comment on social mores, hinting at class distinctions and gender expectations. Gavarni’s choice of lithography aligns with his interest in depicting everyday life and social satire, making art accessible to a broader audience during a time of significant social and political change. It challenges traditional notions of fine art by engaging with popular culture and mass production.