C'etais "pour se donner des forces" c. 1845

"C'était "pour se donner des forces"" (c. 1845) is a pencil and watercolor drawing by the French artist Paul Gavarni (1804-1866). The artwork depicts a man, hunched over with his hands on a wall, seemingly exhausted. It is a poignant portrayal of the physical and mental hardship experienced by working-class individuals in 19th-century France. Gavarni was known for his satirical and social commentary in his lithographs and drawings, often focusing on the lives of the poor and marginalized. This drawing is a testament to his keen observation and empathetic depiction of everyday struggles.