De gewroken echtgenoten 1837

This is “The Avenged Husbands,” a lithograph created by Paul Gavarni. With lithography, the artist draws an image on a flat stone or metal plate, then treats it to hold ink only in the areas that have been drawn. Looking at the image, you can see a court scene, with figures rendered through fine lines and delicate washes of color. This printing technique allowed Gavarni to produce images quickly and in large quantities, perfectly suited for the emerging mass media of 19th-century France. Lithography democratized image production, making art more accessible. The subject matter is also telling. Gavarni often depicted scenes from everyday life. Here he portrays marital discord, capturing social tensions around marriage and gender roles. The quick and reproducible nature of lithography mirrors the rapid social changes of the time, connecting art directly to the pulse of society.