Les Français Peints par Eux-Mêmes. Tome 1-5. Province Tome 1-3 1840 - 1842

This lithograph by Henri-Léon Curmer is from *Les Français Peints par Eux-Mêmes*, a multi-volume study of French society. Notice how the composition is split across two pages. On the left, a bourgeois woman sits poised at her writing desk, while on the right, an allegorical scene depicts political women within a cave. Curmer employs lithography to produce detailed images that explore gendered stereotypes. The contrast between the domestic sphere and the wild unknown reflects the ongoing negotiation of women’s roles in French society. Through the contrasting tableaus, the lithograph highlights the limited scope of women's social and political lives. Consider how Curmer uses visual language to underscore the complex layers of French identity and gender roles. By juxtaposing the intimate portrait of a woman with a symbolic image of ‘political women’, the artwork invites us to examine the diverse roles and expectations placed upon women in 19th century France. It serves as a reminder that art can both reflect and challenge prevailing social norms.