The Smokers 1822

This drawing by Louis Léopold Boilly, made in France, shows two men smoking pipes. Smoking was a social habit, especially among working-class men like the ones depicted here. Boilly’s image captures a seemingly mundane moment, but we can read it in relation to changing social and economic conditions. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, tobacco use was becoming more widespread. The pipes, the casual postures, and the act of sharing a smoke together all speak to a particular kind of working-class camaraderie, separate from the more official social spaces of the upper classes. Art historians often examine prints and drawings like this in light of contemporary social trends. Scholarly articles, period writings, and even something like trade statistics on tobacco might shed light on the social and cultural context of this image. Ultimately, art like this offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of people from the past.