Paul Gavarni, Impressions of Ménage, Plate 24, Mid-19th Century, Lithograph

Details

Description

Lithograph on paper, from the Series "Impressions de Ménage", plate 24. An original nineteenth-century lithograph by the celebrated French artist … Read more Lithograph on paper, from the Series "Impressions de Ménage", plate 24. An original nineteenth-century lithograph by the celebrated French artist Paul Gavarni, from his renowned satirical series Impressions de Ménage ("Impressions of Married Life"). Published by Chez Panier, Rue du Croissant, Paris, and printed by Aubert & Cie, the series presents humorous yet perceptive observations on marriage, parenthood, and bourgeois domestic life in nineteenth-century France. This charming plate depicts a family outing in the countryside. A father strides forward carrying his young son on his shoulders while the child's mother follows behind carrying the family's picnic basket. Rather than enjoying the excursion, the father has turned the walk into an impromptu lesson in geometry, as recorded in the dialogue beneath the image: "Et ta géométrie, voyons! Beauminet, qu'est- ce que le cercle?" "Le cercle, p'pa?" "C'est une courbe \." "\. dont tous les points sont également distants d'un point qu'on appelle le centre." "Le centre!" "Très bien!" ("And your geometry now! Beauminet, what is a circle?" "The circle, Papa?" "It is a curve \. \. whose points are all equally distant from a point called the centre." "The centre!" "Very good!") Gavarni humorously contrasts the idyllic family promenade with the earnest seriousness of bourgeois education. Even during leisure, the father insists upon instructing his son, while the weary mother quietly carries the practical necessities behind them. The scene gently satirises middle-class ideals of paternal education and domestic roles, suggesting that family recreation often remained another opportunity for discipline and self-improvement. Condition: Good overall condition, with a clear, well-preserved impression. The sheet exhibits light age toning, scattered foxing, faint handling marks, and minor edge wear consistent with age. The printed image remains crisp and well-defined throughout. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



issues arising from misattribution See less