1838
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Fourberies de Femmes is a 1838 by Paul Gavarni, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This drawing shows a woman sitting on a chair behind a man who’s bent over a desk, writing. The woman wears a dark dress with a high collar and looks down at him. The man has his back to us, his sleeves rolled up, and a stack of papers in front of him. Behind them, a framed picture hangs on the wall, and a window with curtains lets in dim light. The woman’s hand rests on the man’s shoulder, but her face is calm—not teasing. The artist focused on everyday life, not grand scenes. This was common in Romanticism, which often showed real people in quiet moments. Look up Romanticism next to see how artists used ordinary scenes to tell deeper stories.
Paul Gavarni was the pen name of Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier (13 January 1804 – 24 November 1866), a French illustrator, born in Paris.
See the richer artist page
