Artwork
La Marchande de Citrons
La Marchande de Citrons is a print by the Romanticist artist Paul Gavarni. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
La Marchande de Citrons is a mid‑19th‑century print by French illustrator Paul Gavarni, dated around 1857. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a woman dressed in a long gown and headscarf, standing in a stone courtyard. She holds a tray laden with lemons, her profile turned toward the viewer and her expression solemn.
Technique & Style
Executed in a loose, expressive line, the drawing emphasizes swift, bold strokes for the lemons and a textured rendering of the stone wall behind the figure. The handling of line conveys both the materiality of the objects and the atmosphere of the setting.
Context
Created during the Romantic period, the work reflects the era’s interest in everyday scenes rendered with emotional intensity. Gavarni’s focus on a market figure aligns with contemporary concerns about urban life and the dignity of labor.
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.
