Mister, what is the best troup in Paris, please? c. 19th century

Editor: This is Paul Gavarni's "Mister, what is the best troup in Paris, please?" The lithograph is striking for its detail. How do we interpret the social commentary embedded in Gavarni's choice of subject matter and materials? Curator: Notice how Gavarni uses lithography, a relatively inexpensive process, to depict figures consumed by Parisian entertainment. Is he critiquing their desires, or the commodification of culture itself? Think about the labor involved in producing these prints, and who would consume them. Editor: So, the very act of creating and distributing this image is part of the social critique? Curator: Exactly. The print itself becomes a commodity, reflecting the cycle of production, consumption, and social commentary that Gavarni is exploring. Editor: I had not considered how the medium itself participates in the message. Thank you!