Jongeman passeert een hoedenmaker op straat 1842

Paul Gavarni created this print, "Young Man Passing a Hatter in the Street," using lithography. Gavarni was working in mid-19th century France, a period of dramatic social change and burgeoning capitalism. Here, Gavarni presents a study of class and identity through the lens of fashion. The dandy, recognizable by his top hat and cane, was an emerging figure, epitomizing a new kind of masculine ideal rooted in consumer culture and leisure. Simultaneously, the working class, as represented by the hatter, was struggling with new forms of urban poverty. The text accompanying the image reads, "He only stole my hat!" This suggests a society increasingly preoccupied with material goods and the performance of social status. Gavarni captures a moment rife with tension, where personal identity is deeply intertwined with economic realities. This speaks to the emotional weight carried by something as seemingly trivial as a hat.