Twee dames spreken elkaar op straat 1843

Editor: Here we have Paul Gavarni’s 1843 drawing "Two Ladies Speaking on the Street," currently housed at the Rijksmuseum. It's a pen drawing, quite simple in its execution, yet the way these two women are portrayed has such a wonderfully sarcastic bite to it. What jumps out at you? Curator: It does, doesn't it? Like eavesdropping on a particularly juicy piece of gossip. For me, it’s all about the romanticism simmering beneath the caricature. Notice the emphasis on emotion, even if it's exaggerated for comedic effect. The line work itself has a nervous energy. Almost as if Gavarni captured this interaction in one frenzied breath. I see defiance and also the deep understanding that existed, in that time, between women. Tell me, what do you notice about the text? Does it change how you read the drawing? Editor: It seems like dialogue... very frank and critical dialogue, too! The combination definitely makes it more biting; less an observation and more a commentary. I hadn't really considered how deliberate Gavarni was being! Curator: Exactly. Gavarni captured a specific Parisian archetype: "les lorettes," working-class women often associated with… shall we say, a certain social freedom. And he presents them with a raw honesty, devoid of romantic idealization. But the question lingers: is it judgment or simply a shrewd observation? The ambiguity keeps us hooked, doesn't it? It asks questions, without simple answers. Editor: It does. I originally saw sarcasm, but I guess there is both an undercurrent of understanding and, well, humor! I’ll certainly not forget the Lorette anytime soon.