It is Old and Ugly..., from Le Carnaval à Paris

Art Historical Context

Paul Gavarni's *It is Old and Ugly from Le Carnaval à Paris captures the witty, satirical spirit of mid-19th-century Parisian. Gavarni (1804–1866), a master caricaturist, was renowned for his vivid illustrations in journals like *Le Charivari*, chronicling the bohemian underbelly of the July Monarchy and Second Empire. This lithograph, part of a series on the raucous Parisian Carnival, likely pokes fun at aging, fashion, or fleeting beauty amid the masked revelry—evident in its cheeky title—offering a sharp social commentary on urban excess and human vanity. Printed as a lithograph on discolored ivory wove paper (image: 19.9 × 15.7 cm; sheet: 38.2 × 26 cm), the work showcases Gavarni's prowess in this technique. Lithography allowed for fluid, expressive lines and subtle tones, mimicking drawing while enabling affordable reproduction. The paper's discoloration hints at its age and exposure, adding to the artifact's patina as a window into 19th-century print culture. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, this piece exemplifies how Gavarni's art democratized satire, influencing later illustrators and preserving the colorful chaos of Carnival for modern viewers. A delightful glimpse into Paris's festive follies!

About the Artist

Paul Gavarni · 1804–1866

Paul Gavarni, born Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier on January 13, 1804, in Paris to a cooper father from Burgundy and mother Marie-Monique Thiémet—whose brother, painter Guillaume Thiémet, served as his godfather—began his career far from the art world. As a youth, he worked in a machine factory and studied mechanical drawing at the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers in 1818, followed by evening classe...