Ah! So this is how you sleep at your aunt's house? c. 19th century

Curator: This print by Paul Gavarni is titled "Ah! So this is how you sleep at your aunt's house?". Editor: Oh, this is interesting! It's got a melancholic vibe, but the clown figure adds a layer of… something. Is it whimsy? Or perhaps it's unsettling? Curator: Gavarni was a key figure in French printmaking. "Le Carnaval," where this piece originates, offered social critiques through satire and costume. Editor: Ah, satire! Of course. The juxtaposition of the clown and the uniformed figure, it feels like a commentary on social roles, maybe even societal expectations. I feel like I'm watching some sort of silent, slightly awkward play. Curator: Precisely. Gavarni used these characters to mirror the follies and hypocrisies he observed in Parisian society. The work makes you think about the roles we play. Editor: I'm leaving here pondering my own costume. That’s good art, isn't it?