Les Invalides du Sentiment: A été "jeune premier" 1853

This print, "Les Invalides du Sentiment: A été "jeune premier," was created by Paul Gavarni sometime in the mid-19th century. Gavarni was a keen observer of Parisian life, and his work often satirized the changing social mores of his time. Here, we see a man, once a leading man, now past his prime. The title translates to "The Invalids of Sentiment," suggesting a critique of those who dwell on past glories. The man’s slumped posture and melancholic expression speak to a sense of loss and irrelevance, a sentiment that may have resonated with a society undergoing rapid transformation. Gavarni's work often touched on themes of aging, class, and the performance of identity. Through his art, he captured the anxieties and contradictions of a society grappling with modernity, inviting viewers to reflect on the transient nature of fame and the challenges of adapting to changing social roles.