Two Women of Pleasure Possibly 1860

Constantin Guys created this delicate watercolor drawing "Two Women of Pleasure" on a small sheet of paper. Guys was a keen observer of Parisian life during the Second Empire. His sketches often depicted the city’s bustling streets and the diverse characters who inhabited them, including the "demi-mondaines," or women of the twilight world. These women occupied a precarious position in society, often existing on the margins of respectability. They were simultaneously glamorized and stigmatized. Guys's works are valuable as they offer a glimpse into the lives of those whose stories were often overlooked. They reflect the complex realities of gender, class, and morality in 19th-century Paris. While the term "women of pleasure" is loaded with judgment, Guys captures the essence of these women’s performances, their costuming, and their interactions with each other. Guys invites us to consider the social and economic forces that shaped their lives, while acknowledging their agency and humanity.