The walls have ears c. 19th century

Editor: This is "The Walls Have Ears" by Paul Gavarni. It's a lithograph, and I'm immediately struck by the intimacy of the scene, but there is also a sense of tension. What’s your take on this work? Curator: Well, Gavarni was deeply embedded in the Parisian cultural scene. He used his art to critique bourgeois society. How do you think this piece engages with the social dynamics of 19th-century Paris? Editor: I think it might be about the anxiety of being overheard. What do you mean? Curator: Consider the title, "The Walls Have Ears." It suggests a culture of surveillance, doesn't it? Perhaps reflecting anxieties about political or social secrets. Editor: So, it's not just about two people talking, it’s about the broader environment? Curator: Exactly! Gavarni captures how social and political climates affect even our most private interactions. I find the artist's statement to be very clever and socially astute.