Thank you, sir, I don't dance . . . c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have Paul Gavarni's lithograph, "Thank you, sir, I don't dance . . .". Gavarni, born in 1804, was a key figure in depicting Parisian life. Editor: Oh, this has got wit baked right into it! The body language is so telling. She looks like she's melting into the door. Curator: Precisely, the refusal, the societal constraints, the performance of gender expectations, even within a carnival setting... it's all there, subtly critiqued. Editor: I wonder what story she's telling herself to get through this. Did someone spill wine on her dress? Maybe she's just tired, like me after a good jig! Curator: Gavarni often used his art to comment on the social and political issues of his time. He touches upon the performative aspects of societal expectations. Editor: Hmm, yes, a silent scream in a dress of ruffles and lace! That awkwardness—I feel that! Curator: And that makes Gavarni's work so enduring. Editor: Art for the ages! I want this lithograph to tell me a secret.