So then, he deceives me! c. 19th century

Curator: So then, he deceives me! That's the title of this piece by Paul Gavarni, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. I’m immediately struck by the contrast between the two figures, like a study in shadow and light. Editor: The composition certainly draws the eye to that duality. Given the probable date, it feels like Gavarni is hinting at the constricted roles available to women, pinned down in social expectations. Curator: Indeed. The standing woman, cloaked in darkness, almost seems to loom over the seated figure, doesn't she? As if embodying societal pressure. Editor: Yes, and that seated figure, pinned into the corner, in her bright dress, almost seems trapped by the architecture itself. Curator: Gavarni's use of stark lines to define the figures creates a palpable tension. It makes me wonder about the unseen narrative, the implied betrayal. Is it romantic, societal, or both? Editor: Perhaps all of the above. Gavarni offers no easy answers, mirroring the complex, often contradictory demands placed on women. Curator: It is a piece that lingers, offering so much to unravel. Editor: Absolutely, a quiet but resonant statement about the silent dramas of women's lives.