He had thought he was playing a trick on me in taking Juliette from me . . . c. 19th century

Editor: This print by Paul Gavarni, titled "He had thought he was playing a trick on me in taking Juliette from me . . .", depicts two men in what appears to be a tense encounter. What social dynamics do you see at play here? Curator: I'm immediately struck by the assertion of masculine identity, challenged perhaps. Gavarni was working in a time of shifting social mores. How might this image speak to anxieties around class, gender, and power during that period? Is this bravado or something more fragile? Editor: It does seem like a performance of masculinity. I hadn't thought about it in terms of power dynamics but it is clear there is a power struggle happening. Curator: Exactly. By examining the historical context, we reveal potential commentary on the evolving roles of men and women and the social expectations of the time. What a rich tapestry!