Vrouw geeft man geen tweede kans, achter haar een man met jas 1827 - 1829

Charles Philipon created this print, ‘A Woman Doesn’t Give a Man a Second Chance,’ in France in the 1830s. It depicts a fashionable woman turning away a bowing man. This lithograph reflects the social codes of the time. Courtship was a public performance governed by strict rules. Social status and financial security were primary considerations in marriage, and women had limited power within this system. This image suggests a woman rejecting a suitor, perhaps due to his social inadequacy or a previous misstep. The stern figure in the background might be her chaperone, overseeing the interaction. Philipon's choice of lithography as a medium allowed for the mass production of this image, indicating its popularity and relevance to contemporary audiences. To fully understand this artwork, one might research fashion trends of the 1830s, etiquette manuals for courtship, and the social dynamics of the French middle class. By examining these sources, we can gain a deeper appreciation of how art reflects and comments on the social structures of its time.