Masks and faces 1857 - 1858

"Masks and Faces" is a lithograph by French artist Paul Gavarni, created between 1857 and 1858. The work, housed at The Art Institute of Chicago, depicts two men in conversation, one an upper-class gentleman in a coat and top hat, and the other a working-class man in plain clothes. The contrast in their attire and postures is striking, subtly highlighting social class differences in 19th-century France. Gavarni, known for his satirical and often humorous depictions of Parisian life, masterfully uses the medium of lithograph to capture the characters' expressions and the nuances of their interaction.