Who painted Fourberies de Femmes: En matière de sentiment?

Fourberies de Femmes: En matière de sentiment was painted by Paul Gavarni in 1842.

Where can I see Fourberies de Femmes: En matière de sentiment?

Fourberies de Femmes: En matière de sentiment is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Fourberies de Femmes: En matière de sentiment?

Fourberies de Femmes: En matière de sentiment is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Fourberies de Femmes: En matière de sentiment

Paul Gavarni , 1842

Fourberies de Femmes: En matière de sentiment is a print by the Romanticist artist Paul Gavarni. It dates from 1842 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1942.937
Credit line: Gift of George W. Bierce

About this work

Overview

Created in 1842 by French illustrator Paul Gavarni, this print titled Fourberies de Femmes: En matière de sentiment is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. It presents a domestic interior scene in which a standing man and a seated woman occupy the space, framed by a doorway and a window.

Subject & Meaning

The composition suggests a moment of interaction between the two figures, the man in a long coat and the woman in a flowing dress, hinting at themes of courtship or social exchange. Their restrained facial expressions and the intimate setting invite contemplation of the subtleties of sentiment and perhaps the playful deceit implied by the title.

Technique & Style

Gavarni employs chiaroscuro to model the figures, contrasting illuminated areas with deep shadows to convey volume. Fine line work renders the textures of fabric, while the careful rendering of folds and the nuanced gestures reflect the artist’s attention to detail typical of mid‑nineteenth‑century French printmaking.

History & Provenance

The work was produced in the early 1840s, a period when Gavarni was active in publishing satirical and genre scenes. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition, where it remains on view as an example of his print oeuvre.