Who painted Hommes de Bourse?

Hommes de Bourse was painted by Paul Gavarni in 1857.

Where can I see Hommes de Bourse?

Hommes de Bourse is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Hommes de Bourse?

Hommes de Bourse is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Hommes de Bourse

Paul Gavarni , 1857

Hommes de Bourse is a print by the Impressionist artist Paul Gavarni. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1924.289
Credit line: Charles W. Harkness Endowment Fund

About this work

Overview

Created around 1857, Hommes de Bourse is a print by French illustrator Paul Gavarni now in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work presents a single figure in a formal pose, rendered in monochrome with a focus on light and shadow that emphasizes the subject’s attire and surroundings.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a sharply dressed man, long coat, tall hat, and cane, standing in a room that appears to have a dusty or damp floor. The title, French for “stockbrokers,” signals Gavarni’s satirical intent, using the exaggerated formality of the attire to comment on the pretensions of financial professionals of his time.

Technique & Style

Gavarni employs a chiaroscuro approach, contrasting deep blacks with bright highlights to model the figure and create a sense of volume. The print’s line work is precise, and the limited palette heightens the theatricality of the scene, a hallmark of mid‑nineteenth‑century French caricature.

History & Provenance

The print was produced in the late 1850s, a period when Gavarni was prolific in publishing social sketches for newspapers and albums. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century, where it remains part of the museum’s European prints and drawings collection.