Le couplet final, from Tirage Unique de Trente-Six Bois Possibly 1862 - 1920

Charles Maurand created 'Le couplet final' as part of a series of thirty-six wood engravings which offer a critical view into Parisian society. The image captures a tense moment at the theater, highlighting class distinctions and gender dynamics. A well-dressed man forcefully hushes a woman beside him, likely his wife, while a performance unfolds on stage. The man’s gesture silences her, underscoring his dominance and her subjugated position within this social context. The composition, with the performers in the background, suggests that this silencing is itself a performance of power. The artist draws our attention to the unspoken rules governing public behavior and private relationships. Maurand’s engraving captures a fraught moment, inviting us to consider the emotional and societal pressures experienced by women in nineteenth-century Paris. In a society undergoing rapid social and political change, 'Le couplet final' offers a glimpse into the intimate struggles for power and voice.