Libert, from Le Café-Concert 1893

Editor: Here we have Henri-Gabriel Ibels’ “Libert, from Le Café-Concert,” a lithograph from 1893. It strikes me as a portrait of a man caught in a moment, perhaps on his way to, or from, an evening out. What can you tell me about this image and its place in the culture of its time? Curator: This print offers a glimpse into the social landscape of late 19th-century Paris. Café-concerts were not just entertainment venues; they were melting pots where social classes mingled. Ibels, aligned with the avant-garde, uses this image to depict the bourgeoisie and their habits. Does the subject’s clothing say anything to you? Editor: The man’s checkered suit looks deliberately… conspicuous. It gives a sense of burgeoning wealth perhaps? A desire for social visibility? Curator: Precisely. Consider the democratization of art happening then too, fueled by the rise of printmaking. Artists like Ibels could reach wider audiences and comment on the changing social order. His work reflects the anxieties and aspirations of a society grappling with new class dynamics and modes of entertainment. What about his facial expression; what does that convey to you? Editor: He appears to be looking off to the side at someone, with a mixture of acknowledgement, and perhaps defiance? Maybe he wants to project confidence. Curator: Yes, and it's worth asking who Ibels is making this art *for*. It could very well be intended to appeal to those on the outside of these social circles as well. It shows how art served as a crucial arena for constructing and negotiating social identities during a period of rapid change. Editor: So it’s more than just a portrait, it’s a cultural commentary, using both the subject and the medium to speak about Parisian society. I had not considered it like that. Thanks. Curator: Absolutely. Understanding the historical and social context opens up so much meaning within the art.