Hôtes légers des rêveries de jeunes filles . . . c. 19th century

Editor: This is Paul Gavarni's "Hôtes légers des rêveries de jeunes filles . . ." a drawing with no specified date at the Harvard Art Museums. The couple seems to be trapped in a stilted performance of wealth. How do you interpret the work? Curator: I see Gavarni critiquing the performative aspects of bourgeois marriage and gender roles in 19th century France. Notice how the woman's face is obscured and the man is adorned in exaggerated attire, rendering them almost caricatures. What does this image tell us about the social expectations of women at the time versus men? Editor: It’s interesting to see the man so prominently displayed. It makes me think about power dynamics. Curator: Exactly. Gavarni is encouraging us to question these power structures, highlighting the social constraints placed upon women within this particular class. We can think about how similar issues of representation persist today. Editor: That definitely gives me a lot to think about. Thank you.