1843
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Les Actrices: Nous ferez-vous l'hommeur de nous baiser le main? is a 1843 by Paul Gavarni, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This sketch shows two women in a dimly lit room. One woman, dressed in a long, fancy gown with a crown on her head, stands stiffly. The other woman, in a simpler dress, leans forward to kiss her hand. The lighting is soft, focusing on their faces and hands. The title hints at a playful or ironic scene about actresses. The artist used shading to create depth, making the women’s expressions stand out. Look up chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works in other art.
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
