Lord-tolan prenant sa leçon de dance, La Passions, No. 7 1800 - 1850

This hand-colored etching by Basset depicts a portly, overdressed man taking a dance lesson. The print, titled "Lord-tolan prenant sa leçon de dance", likely comes from early 19th-century France, a period marked by social upheaval and the rise of a new bourgeoisie eager to emulate aristocratic customs. The humor in this image lies in the contrast between the man's physical appearance and the grace expected of dancers. It satirizes social climbing and the sometimes awkward attempts to adopt the affectations of the upper class. The dancing dog mirrors this, further ridiculing attempts at refinement. Prints like this were a popular form of social commentary, reflecting and shaping public opinion. To fully understand the print’s context, one could research the publishing house involved, the popular press of the time, and the prevailing attitudes towards social mobility. The meaning of this art is tied to the specific social and institutional conditions that shaped its production and reception.