Man with an Umbrella c. 19th century

Curator: This unassuming piece, "Man with an Umbrella," dating from the 19th century, is the work of Paul Gavarni, and it resides here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It’s a genre scene rendered with pen and ink, and also with pencil. Editor: Well, isn't he just dapper! Even caught in what seems like mid-stride, he exudes this…self-aware seriousness. Almost like he’s posing for a particularly understated street style blog a century and a half too early! Curator: Gavarni often depicted everyday life in Paris, focusing on social types. I see this man as embodying a rising middle class, perhaps grappling with new economic realities and anxieties. The umbrella, a symbol of bourgeois life. Editor: Totally! I love how Gavarni captures this almost defiant individualism with what feels like the fewest possible strokes. And yet, you get the whole guy, his whole vibe! You almost want to know where he’s going… or coming from! Curator: Absolutely. The precision of line emphasizes his self-presentation. Look at the crispness of his top hat, the tailored coat. These details speak to the codes and performance of masculinity and class. Editor: Performance is right! Is it just me, or does his shadow seem…darker…more substantial than the man himself? I mean, who is really leading who? Curator: That’s a fascinating observation. We can read the shadow, perhaps, as symbolic of societal expectations weighing on the individual, shaping identity. He has embraced it, this persona… Editor: That makes perfect sense. Makes you think, who among us isn't performing some version of ourselves? It’s kinda melancholic when you look at it that way, you know? Like he's sort of trapped… Curator: A powerful reading. Looking at Gavarni through that lens of performativity expands how we understand his wider body of work. He was observant of the social landscape, but this single character leaves an outsized impression, no pun intended. Editor: I’m going to keep thinking about that shadow. Like, does it have its own umbrella somewhere? Thanks for lending some scholarly illumination!