Ah! Believe if you would that the man who made me a dreamer could pride himself on being a scoundrel., p. 111 1853

Editor: This is a drawing by Paul Gavarni, titled "Ah! Believe if you would that the man who made me a dreamer could pride himself on being a scoundrel." I’m struck by the languid poses of the women. What story do you think Gavarni is trying to tell here? Curator: Gavarni often depicted Parisian life, and this print likely reflects the social dynamics and gender roles of the time. The text underneath seems to imply a power imbalance, perhaps commenting on relationships between wealthy patrons and those dependent on them. How does the setting contribute to this interpretation? Editor: I see what you mean. The interior feels intimate, maybe even claustrophobic, reinforcing that sense of dependence. So, it’s not just about the individuals, but the larger social structures at play? Curator: Precisely. Gavarni used his art to subtly critique the moral ambiguities of 19th-century French society. Consider how the print media itself democratized access to these critiques. It becomes a public conversation. Editor: That makes me look at it in a new light. It’s not just a pretty picture, but a commentary on the art world itself!