Don't trust city gentlemen, son. . . c. 19th century

Editor: This is Paul Gavarni’s "Don't trust city gentlemen, son . . .". It's a print featuring two figures, one seemingly warning the other. It feels like a commentary on class and naiveté, but I’m unsure how it intersects with broader social issues. What stands out to you? Curator: It certainly speaks to class, but also to power dynamics. The older figure, with his accusatory finger and disheveled appearance, represents a certain cynicism born from experience, perhaps poverty. The younger figure, though dressed in finery, looks vulnerable. Where does that vulnerability stem from? Is it the fear of exploitation, the burden of expectation, or something else? Editor: Maybe it's a fear of the unknown, entering a world where these "city gentlemen" hold all the cards? Curator: Precisely. And Gavarni, through his art, critiques this very system. He shines a light on those power imbalances and asks us to question the supposed virtues of the urban elite. These narratives still resonate today, don't they? Editor: Absolutely. This makes me think about how these dynamics play out even now.