Jonge vrouw vlijt zich tegen jongeman aan op de bank 1841

This is a drawing by Paul Gavarni, depicting a young woman reclining against a young man on a sofa. The composition is structured by the horizontal lines of the sofa. The image is rendered in delicate lines, which creates a sense of intimacy. The young woman reclines in an arching posture with arm lifted, while the young man sits upright. This contrast in posture and gesture suggests a difference in their emotional states. The lines of the wall behind the figures rise vertically, suggesting a structured and confined space. This is counterpointed by the slightly off-kilter perspective, which destabilizes our sense of the depicted space. Gavarni’s formal choices invite us to consider the societal expectations of women and men, the boundaries of private and public behaviors, and the fluid nature of modern life.