Jongeman leest een brief in een restaurant 1840

"Jongeman leest een brief in een restaurant" (Young Man Reading a Letter in a Restaurant) is a lithograph by French artist Paul Gavarni, created in 1840. The scene depicts a man seated at a table in a Parisian restaurant, intently reading a letter, while a man stands in the doorway observing him. Gavarni, known for his social commentary through satirical caricatures, captures the everyday life of the Parisian middle class. This lithograph, part of a series titled "Fourberies de Femmes" (Women's Tricks), is a humorous representation of the social interactions and anxieties of the period. The use of sharp lines and detailed etching highlights Gavarni's talent for capturing human expressions and creating dynamic compositions.