Vrouw kondigt andere vrouw aan dat ze peettante wordt 1841

Paul Gavarni made this print, "Vrouw kondigt andere vrouw aan dat ze peettante wordt," sometime in the mid-19th century. It is one of a series called “Les Lorette’s,” named after a Parisian district populated by kept women. The artist Gavarni gained popularity in France for his satirical drawings of Parisian life. His works, like this one, reveal the subtle social commentary in his scenes. The setting seems to be an upper-class parlor. In this image, a woman reclining comfortably on a sofa is told by another that she is to be a godmother. From the perspective of social history, we should consider the prevailing attitudes toward class and gender at that time. What was the role of women in French society? How did people view relationships between men and women of different social classes? Images like this offer a glimpse into the visual culture of 19th-century Paris and reveal how the artist responded to the social structures of his time. To understand the context of the work more deeply, we might consult historical documents such as newspapers, letters, and literature from the period.