Vrouw overlegt met haar man tijdens een wandeling 1841

Paul Gavarni created this lithograph, titled 'Vrouw overlegt met haar man tijdens een wandeling', which translates to 'Woman in discussion with her husband during a walk.' The artwork invites us into the world of 19th-century Parisian society, specifically that of the 'lorettes' - women often associated with the margins of society. Gavarni, through his satirical lens, captures a negotiation, perhaps a transaction, occurring between a man and a woman. The text below translates to: "My little man must be reasonable; it's my godfather who wants absolutely to make me an expert in his Bien des Bouches-du-Rhône for the education of his little one; I'm going to leave her the mute." This raises questions about the roles of women, class dynamics, and the economic realities that shaped their lives. What does it mean for a woman's worth to be negotiated in this way? How do societal expectations and economic pressures influence personal choices and relationships? Gavarni prompts us to consider the intersections of gender, class, and power in the context of 19th-century Paris, revealing both the humor and the harsh realities of the time.