Artwork
Affliches Illustrées
Affliches 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
Affliches Illustrées, a mid‑19th‑century print by French illustrator Paul Gavarni, dates to around 1845 and is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. The work presents a brief, comic tableau rendered in stark black‑and‑white line work, typical of Gavarni’s satirical approach to contemporary life.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a gentleman in a top hat and long coat, adjusting his hat while clutching a cane, juxtaposed with a woman in a loose dress standing near a doorway and glancing back. Text above the woman—*"Prodige de la Chie"* and *"On essaie d’acheter"*—suggests a humorous, possibly topical jab at a Parisian event or social foible of the era.
Technique & Style
Gavarni employs bold contour lines and varied shading to define form and convey movement, relying on the contrast of light and dark rather than color. The exaggerated facial features and stylized poses amplify the comedic effect, aligning the piece with the caricatural tradition of French illustration.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1845, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings at an unspecified date. Its presence in the museum underscores the institution’s commitment to representing 19th‑century French graphic art and the broader cultural milieu of Parisian satire.
Artist & collection
Artist
Paul Gavarni was the pen name of Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier (13 January 1804 – 24 November 1866), a French illustrator, born in Paris.
