I have to say that those little bootlettes there would have kept company with no small number of boots!, p. 121 1853

Curator: Here we have a lithograph by Paul Gavarni, a French artist born in the early 1800s. It's titled, "I have to say that those little bootlettes there would have kept company with no small number of boots!" from page 121. Editor: Oh, I love the immediacy of the sketch! It captures such a fleeting expression, almost a knowing smirk. Curator: Indeed. Gavarni was a master of capturing the spirit of Parisian life. Note how the disheveled figure contrasts with those well-worn boots. Are they symbols of a life lived fully, perhaps a bit recklessly? Editor: Possibly! Boots often represent journeys, and these look like they've seen their fair share. The figure's relaxed pose suggests a comfortable familiarity with…perhaps the consequences of those journeys? Curator: It is a suggestive composition, isn't it? The quick, expressive lines really bring the scene to life. Editor: Absolutely, a beautiful moment of humanity preserved through ink and paper!