"Ce qui se fait dans les meilleures societes" 

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this lithograph, “Ce qui se fait dans les meilleures societes” by Paul Gavarni. The image, rendered primarily in pencil, presents a pair of figures against an urban backdrop. Editor: The figures immediately strike me as forlorn. The downward cast of their eyes and the stooped posture suggests hardship, doesn't it? There is a sort of romantic sensibility at play here. Curator: Gavarni was known for depicting Parisian life during the 19th century, often focusing on the struggles of the working class and social satire. What is interesting here is to examine the context around lithographs as easily distributed artwork, therefore, accessible imagery. Editor: Exactly. These were meant for a broader public, offering glimpses into the lives often ignored by the elite. Who are these people, though? The woman looks burdened and perhaps fatigued. What does it mean that they're not idealized at all? Curator: Gavarni used his art to critique social inequalities. He's offering an honest, unromanticized depiction of labor, rather than the sanitized versions promoted by the upper classes, to create the conditions for a wider understanding. Editor: The contrast between the backdrop –those houses look quite nice!– and the figures emphasizes the disparity. Look at that man. Curator: Note the precision of the line work; Gavarni truly captured these faces. But, more interestingly, he used the relatively new technique of lithography. Editor: In doing so, Gavarni situates their hardship against a specific urban setting. And it asks us to look closer at the power dynamics inherent within class structures and reflect upon the politics of representation itself. Curator: Well said. Gavarni captured something vital in Parisian social history, using an industrial medium. It's not just a pretty picture. Editor: Absolutely. I am reminded that our perspectives always need more inclusivity to truly capture what social structures imply. It's been helpful to contextualize Gavarni's intentions!