An employee of the fitter of Morrel Cocles in 1829 1846

Editor: This is "An employee of the fitter of Morrel Cocles in 1829," a pencil and charcoal drawing by Paul Gavarni, created in 1846. The subject matter appears to be of someone in contemplation. I can’t help but wonder what’s in the letter he holds in his hands. What strikes you most about this portrait? Curator: You know, looking at this fellow, I imagine he’s just received some rather deflating news. Perhaps a business deal gone sour? Or maybe a lost love declared through those very lines he clutches? Gavarni, the sneaky genius, captures that quiet despair, doesn't he? His Romantic sensibilities shine through; think shadow-drenched melodrama, a bit of soul-searching under the gaslight, eh? What do you suppose Gavarni intended to communicate with the shadowy wash behind the subject? Editor: It’s interesting that you mention melodrama. Is that how genre paintings typically present themselves? Curator: Well, consider the time, love. Romanticism was all about big feels, right? But see how Gavarni roots it in something real - not lords and ladies swooning, but a working man grappling with reality. This fellow isn't just any subject; he's meant to evoke a slice of Parisian life, all its gritty corners included. Imagine yourself a fly on the wall in Gavarni’s studio... You get my meaning. What do you think of his coat, that is so much a focus on his physique and the general sense of the scene? Editor: It adds to the overall effect of a melancholic realism. Seeing how the Romantic style incorporates real life through a somewhat depressing lens gives the drawing more depth and impact. Curator: Indeed! It all serves to show us the dignity and perhaps, fragility, hidden beneath a common exterior, wouldn’t you agree? Each crease and shade, each choice to hold on to or forget something valuable, shows something. Editor: Absolutely. I think I see it now! Thanks so much!