Vrouw doet een voorstel aan haar man 1841

This lithograph was made by Paul Gavarni, sometime in the mid-19th century. The lithographic process involves drawing on a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then using ink to transfer that image to paper. Gavarni was a master of this technique, and the many lines in this print allowed him to create subtle tonal gradations and textures. Look closely, and you will see that the paper itself is integral to the process. The texture of the paper allows the ink to sit on the surface, giving the image a unique visual quality. Consider the social context of this image. Gavarni's work often depicted scenes of Parisian life, including the lives of working-class women. Here, we see a woman, possibly a courtesan, kneeling to speak with a man reclining on a couch. The artist's skill in lithography allowed him to capture the nuances of this interaction, and its relationship to the wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. This work is a testament to the power of materials, making, and context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork.