My dear Sir, Caroline charged me to remember you . . . c. 19th century

Curator: I feel a bit of ennui wafting off this print—the fellow at the desk looks utterly trapped! Editor: That's interesting, given it's a lithograph by Paul Gavarni. It's titled "My dear Sir, Caroline charged me to remember you . . .," part of a series satirizing women and relationships. Curator: Ah, so the image suggests a narrative. He's writing a note, perhaps? The woman hovers, a dark presence behind him. It feels... claustrophobic. Editor: Exactly. Gavarni's work often critiqued social conventions. The woman's pose, the letter—it's all about power dynamics and the constraints of societal expectations on men. Curator: It does make you wonder about Caroline and the nature of the "certain duo" she's reminding him about. Is it a debt, or something more... personal? Editor: Given the era, this could be a commentary on the social pressures of marriage and fidelity. Curator: Well, either way, I get the feeling Monsieur isn't having a very good day. Editor: A subtle indictment, perhaps? Food for thought.