Mrs. Charming, you have spoken your pavilion scene like an angel . . . c. 19th century

Curator: Let's consider this print by Paul Gavarni. It depicts a man and woman, likely performers, but what stands out is the means of its production. It is a print, probably lithography or engraving, made for mass consumption. Editor: It looks like a page from a book or journal. The text at the bottom is French. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The material context is key. Gavarni made many of these for periodicals. This image speaks to how art was consumed by a growing middle class through printed media. Editor: So, it's less about the scene itself, and more about the process and audience? Curator: Exactly. It's about the commodification of art and performance through printmaking, making it accessible. I wonder about the paper, the ink, and the labor involved in its dissemination. Editor: I never thought about it that way! It's amazing to consider all the hands this print passed through.