Do you pay taxes like papa, Mr. Pastorin, to be usurious

Curator: This lithograph by Paul Gavarni is titled "Do you pay taxes like papa, Mr. Pastorin, to be usurious." Look at the stark contrast between the figures. Editor: I see a potent commentary on class and exploitation. There's a clear imbalance of power in the composition, the child looks so small. Curator: Absolutely. The child's direct question pierces the veil of societal norms, revealing the uncomfortable truth about wealth accumulation. Editor: And the way Gavarni renders the man, with his glasses perched on his nose and hat placed next to him, it creates a portrait of smug authority. Curator: A smugness that, dare I say, still resonates today. I find the image both witty and deeply unsettling, a reminder of enduring inequalities. Editor: Indeed, Gavarni's work prompts reflection on the cyclical nature of economic disparities and the ethical questions that underpin them.