Artwork

Affiches Illustrées

Affiches Illustrées, by Paul Gavarni, 1845
Affiches Illustrées, by Paul Gavarni, 1845

Affiches Illustrées is a print by the Romanticist artist Paul Gavarni. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Affiches Illustrées, a print by Paul Gavarni, dates to circa 1845 and is part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a serene, intimate scene of a man and woman engaged in conversation. The woman, in a dark dress with her hand tucked in, and the man, in a top hat and coat with his hand in his pocket, convey a sense of quiet, personal interaction.

Technique & Style

Rendered in a detailed, realistic style, the work emphasizes textures of clothing and expressive facial features, characteristic of the Romanticism movement's emphasis on emotional depth and everyday life.

History & Provenance

Created around 1845 by French artist Paul Gavarni, the print's history prior to its acquisition by The Cleveland Museum of Art is not detailed here.

Context

The presence of a sign with French text in the background suggests a Parisian setting, contextualizing the scene within Gavarni's familiar subject matter of 19th-century French urban life.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Paul Gavarni

Artist

Paul Gavarni

Paul Gavarni was the pen name of Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier (13 January 1804 – 24 November 1866), a French illustrator, born in Paris.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.