The Baby in Saint-Giles, from Masques et Visages

Art Historical Context

In the bustling world of mid-19th-century Paris Paul Gavarni captured the vibrant social tapestry through his masterful lithographs. *The Baby in Saint-G, from Masques et Visages*1852) is a poignant entry in his series of character studies, which humorously and incisively portrayed the "masks and faces" of everyday Parisians—from bohemians to the working class. Gavarni, a leading caricaturist associated with Romantic lithography, drew inspiration from the gritty streets of neighborhoods like Saint-Giles (Saint-Gilles), evoking the era's mix of urban poverty, whimsy, and resilience amid Haussmann's looming transformations. Printed in black ink on creamy ivory wove paper, this lithograph exemplifies the medium's revolutionary potential: lithography allowed artists like Gavarni to draw directly on stone with greasy crayon, producing rich tonal gradations and intricate details unachievable in earlier print techniques. At 21.5 × 18.5 cm, the intimate image invites close viewing, its fine lines conveying tenderness and satire in the child's innocent gaze amid humble surroundings. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings collection, this work highlights Gavarni's enduring legacy in documenting Second Empire society. It reminds visitors of lithography's role in democratizing art, making sharp social commentary accessible to a wide audience through affordable prints. A charming snapshot of Parisian life, it blends observation with empathy.

About the Artist

Paul Gavarni

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...