A baby! a baby, sir, and I believed myself right up until yesterday the first and only love. 1920

Curator: This print by Paul Gavarni, poignantly titled "A baby! a baby, sir, and I believed myself right up until yesterday the first and only love," strikes me as wonderfully melancholic. Editor: I agree, there's a theatrical sadness here, almost as if the man is performing his sorrow. The two hats left abandoned suggest something left behind or lost. Curator: Absolutely, the hat as a symbol of status and identity! Its abandonment speaks volumes about the character's inner turmoil. But notice the woman's gesture; she seems almost to be giving a direction, which is the symbol of power over him. Editor: Maybe the direction is to grow up! This composition isn't just about romantic betrayal; it's a snapshot of societal roles and expectations. Curator: Perhaps. Gavarni captures how love and identity can be so intertwined and easily shattered. Editor: Indeed. It makes you wonder what we leave behind when love changes its course.