Les Propos de Thomas Vireloque: His Majesty the King of beasts 1852

This print, "His Majesty the King of beasts," was made by Paul Gavarni in nineteenth-century France using etching. The image is produced by carefully drawing through a waxy ground covering a metal plate, which is then exposed to acid. This eats away the exposed lines, leaving an image that can be inked and printed. Gavarni’s choice of etching is critical. It’s a process that allows for tremendous detail and fine lines, ideal for capturing the disheveled appearance of the two figures depicted. But it also has a social significance. Etching was a popular medium for social commentary during this period, lending itself well to mass production. Prints could be widely circulated, bringing Gavarni’s observations of Parisian life to a broad audience. We can observe the artist’s critical eye, seeing the signs of poverty and alienation etched into the very lines of the print. Through the print-making process, Gavarni turns the lives of ordinary people into art, blurring the lines between high art and everyday life.