Les v'la qui montent en fiacre avec Monsieur! 

Jean-Louis Forain made this watercolor drawing, “Les v'la qui montent en fiacre avec Monsieur!” sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. It depicts a well-to-do man, perhaps a politician, entering a building, observed with envy by two working-class women. Forain was active as an illustrator in Paris, where the deep inequalities of wealth and power, so evident here, were thrown into sharp relief. As a satirical artist, he repeatedly explored the contrast between the bourgeoisie and the poor. This work captures a moment of resentment and social commentary. The artist gives us insight into their lives during the Belle Époque. It’s a study of class relations during a tumultuous period in French history. To understand Forain's intentions fully, we'd need to delve into publications from his time, looking at other illustrations and broader social commentaries. Only then can we fully understand his critique of Parisian society.