Jonge vrouw leest man voor uit boek van Descartes 1840

This lithograph by Paul Gavarni, likely made in the mid-19th century, is a product of industrialization. Lithography, a printmaking process using a flat stone or metal plate, allowed for the mass production of images like this one. The print itself is the point. Gavarni, a keen observer of social life, used this technique to disseminate his commentary widely. Here, we see a young woman reading to a man, perhaps her employer or father. The scene is intimate, but also suggestive of a social divide – she is working, he is relaxing. The crisp lines and tonal range are a testament to the lithographic process. The contrast between light and shadow emphasizes the details of the interior and the figures' clothing. It is this reproducible image, rather than the scene it depicts, that truly captures the spirit of the age.