Artwork
Le Lundi
Le Lundi is a print by the Impressionist artist Paul Gavarni. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1858, Le Lundi is a print by French illustrator Paul Gavarni that resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The image captures a solitary, middle‑aged gentleman in a long coat and top hat, standing before a modest building with a fence and a few trees rendered in loose, sketch‑like lines.
Subject & Meaning
The figure, hands in his pockets and leaning on a cane, suggests a moment of idle contemplation typical of urban life in mid‑nineteenth‑century Paris. The title, meaning “Monday,” implies a routine weekday scene, perhaps commenting on the anonymity and quiet routine of the city’s ordinary inhabitants.
Technique & Style
Gavarni employs a rapid, gestural line that conveys both immediacy and atmosphere. The print’s economy of detail—suggested foliage, a simple fence, and the building’s outline—reflects the artist’s focus on character over setting, aligning with the realist tendency to depict everyday subjects with directness.
History & Provenance
The work dates to the late 1850s, a period when Gavarni was prolific in producing satirical sketches of Parisian society. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition (specific donor or purchase details are not recorded in the available documentation).
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.
