(To first man) "Wait for me tonight . . ." c. 19th century

Editor: This is "To first man) 'Wait for me tonight . . .'" by Paul Gavarni, from the 19th century. It's a print that feels satirical, maybe a comment on social interactions. I'm curious, how does this image reflect its time? Curator: This print satirizes the performative aspects of courtship and societal expectations in 19th-century France. Notice the exaggerated postures and attire. How might this image be read as a critique of social mobility and the artificiality of bourgeois life? Editor: I hadn't considered the social critique. Seeing it that way makes the image much richer. Curator: Exactly. Gavarni uses humor to dissect the social codes of his era, inviting us to question the roles we play. Editor: Thanks, I'll definitely look at similar works with this in mind.