Thursday, you dined at Vachette's, with a grand Monsieur ... That's a joke! Yes, he's the touching Némorin [Forest?] of which I am the Estelle [deer?], for a quarter of an hour. He has only one eye, that man: it's equal, he displeases me!, p. 123 1853

Curator: Let's talk about this satirical print by Paul Gavarni, its full title a real mouthful: "Thursday, you dined at Vachette's, with a grand Monsieur… That's a joke! Yes, he's the touching Némorin of which I am the Estelle, for a quarter of an hour. He has only one eye, that man: it's equal, he displeases me!" Editor: My first impression is intrigue, mixed with a touch of melancholy, the way the light captures the model's face makes her look trapped and jaded. Curator: Yes, Gavarni often depicted the complexities of Parisian life, especially the social dynamics between men and women. You can tell by the title the relationship is not ideal. Editor: The artist's 'single eye' could be interpreted as a symbol of a limited perspective or perhaps a skewed view of women. Curator: I agree, it's about power dynamics, the commodification of relationships, the fleeting nature of affection... It's both witty and a little sad. Editor: It leaves you wondering, doesn’t it, about the stories behind the faces of these figures, caught in a moment of social commentary.