Karikatuur van een Joodse pakketbezorger die onderhandelt met een vrouw 1843

This lithograph by Paul Gavarni captures a moment of negotiation between a Jewish delivery man and a woman, likely made in the mid-19th century. The delivery man, identified by his Semitic features and attire, engages with a woman holding a fan. In this image, the fan is more than a mere accessory; it’s a symbol of coquetry and perhaps a tool in the delicate dance of commerce. The negotiation itself becomes a stage, imbued with layers of social and economic tension. Consider the recurring motif of the merchant, haggling over goods. This scene echoes across centuries, from ancient marketplaces to Venetian trade routes, each time colored by the cultural biases of the era. Here, the caricature reflects prevailing stereotypes, yet it also captures a timeless human interaction. It's a cultural artifact, revealing how deeply ingrained prejudices can shape our perceptions, manifesting in art as a reflection of societal anxieties and biases.