Prints and Authors in the Time of Manet

La Mère Gérard

Etching, 1858
Gift of Mr.and Mrs. Charles L. McKelvy, Jr., 1976.149

This is an early print done in the style of French social satirist Paul Gavarni (1804–1866), and reflects Whistler’s early interest in Realism (see works by Gavarni in this exhibition). Realism was in direct opposition to academic painting styles that idealized and glorified their subjects.