Twee vrouwen spreken elkaar op een terras buiten de stad 1842

Paul Gavarni created this lithograph, "Two women speaking to each other on a terrace outside the city", depicting a slice of 19th-century Parisian life. The print, titled "Les Lorettes", offers a glimpse into the lives of Parisian women known as "Lorettes", a term for working-class women, often seamstresses or shop assistants, who lived in the Notre-Dame de Lorette neighborhood. These women negotiate their lives and loves in a society still bound by rigid class and gender expectations. They are caught between economic necessity and the desire for social mobility, often relying on relationships with wealthier men. The attire, the setting, and the intimate conversation hint at the complex negotiations these women face, including financial security and personal freedom. Gavarni captures a quiet moment between the women, a fleeting scene of camaraderie and perhaps even shared dreams. The setting outside the city suggests a temporary escape from the urban grind, a moment to breathe and connect. It's a reminder of the resilience and agency of these women.