author
Paul Gavarni
1804–1866
Best known for sharp, lively drawings of Paris life, this 19th-century French artist turned everyday scenes into witty social observation. His work captures fashion, manners, and the mood of his era with humor and style.
1 Audiobook
Pictures by Gavarni
by Paul Gavarni
About the author
Born in Paris in 1804 as Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier, he became famous under the name Paul Gavarni. He first trained in technical drawing and worked in practical trades before building a career as an illustrator, lithographer, and caricaturist.
Gavarni made his name with images of fashionable society, theatergoers, families, and street life. His prints were admired for their elegance and wit, and they offered a vivid picture of 19th-century Paris. Although he is often remembered for satire, his work could also be observant and sympathetic.
He died in 1866, but his drawings remain an important record of French urban life in his time. Readers coming to him now will find not just humor, but a sharp eye for character and the small performances of everyday social life.