Mademoiselle sings; we will have water. 1853

Editor: This is Paul Gavarni's "Mademoiselle sings; we will have water.", and I am struck by the contrast between the figures and the sketchiness of the drawing. How do you interpret the social dynamic being depicted here? Curator: The lithographic process itself is crucial. Gavarni's rapid sketches, multiplied through printmaking, democratized images of Parisian life. Note how the "water" is delivered. Who is laboring, and who is being served? Editor: So, it's not just about the scene, but also about how Gavarni made and distributed the image? Curator: Precisely. The means of production, the act of consumption, and the social classes represented—it’s all interwoven in the material reality of the print. Editor: That shifts my perspective entirely. I hadn't considered the print's distribution as part of its message. Curator: Considering the means of production alongside the subject matter can reveal hidden layers of meaning.