author
Paul Gavarni
1804–1866
Best known for sharp, elegant images of Parisian life, this French illustrator and caricaturist turned everyday manners, fashion, and social theater into memorable art. His work captured the wit and mood of 19th-century France with a light touch that still feels alive.
1 Audiobook
Pictures by Gavarni
by Paul Gavarni
About the author
Born in Paris on January 13, 1804, Paul Gavarni was the pen name of Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier. He became one of the most recognized French illustrators and lithographers of the 19th century, admired for scenes that observed society with humor, style, and a keen eye for character.
His drawings often focused on Parisian manners, fashion, and modern urban life, and they appeared in popular illustrated publications. Britannica notes that his work is especially valued for its polished wit and for the vivid panorama it gives of the world around him.
Gavarni died in Paris on November 24, 1866. Today he is remembered as an artist who could be funny without being shallow, using caricature and illustration to record the gestures, types, and small dramas of his time.