L'or

Paul Gavarni made this drawing, called 'L'or,' in 19th-century France, likely using graphite on paper. Gavarni was a keen observer of Parisian life, and this image, whose title translates to 'Gold,' speaks volumes about social anxieties surrounding wealth and labor. The drawing depicts a man digging, perhaps searching for something valuable, or perhaps simply working. But his furtive expression and hidden location raise questions. Is he a common laborer, or someone driven by greed? Is he trying to take the gold, or trying to bury it? Gavarni made his art during a time of rapid social and economic change. France's institutions of finance and labor were being challenged by new forms of industrial capitalism. 'L'or' seems to capture these anxieties. To fully understand the meaning of this image, we might research 19th-century French labor practices, economic theory, or even popular literature that dealt with themes of greed and social mobility. The meaning of art is always shaped by the world around it.