The Human Comedy: Chronicles of 19th-Century France
![](http://www.tumblr.com/share/photo?source=http%3A%2F%2Flibbymurphy.com%2Fhumancomedy%2Fstorage%2Fcache%2Fimages%2F000%2F022%2F19517963%2Clarge.jpg%3F1382211479&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="http%3A%2F%2Flibbymurphy.com%2Fhumancomedy%2Falbums%2Fparis-carnival%2F" title="Paris Carnival"%3EParis Carnival%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ETHE+MASKED+BALL%0AIn+Gavarni%E2%80%99s+day%2C+the+Paris+carnival+was+the+most+popular+carnival+in+Europe%2C+more+popular+even+than+the+one+in+Venice.++The+period+leading+up+to+Lent+was+a+time+for+parades%2C+feasts%2C+and+celebrations+in+which+decorum+and+social+hierarchies+were+temporarily+suspended.+During+carnival%2C+public%2C+private%2C+and+semi-private+costume+balls+were+held+throughout+the+city.+These+all-night+dance+parties+began+at+midnight+and+lasted+until+five+in+the+morning.+Traditional+costumes+like+Harlequin%2C+Polichinelle%2C+and+Pierrot+were+joined+by+original+costumes+by+artists+like+Gavarni.+Theaters+converted+opera+pits+into+temporary+dance+floors+where+revelers+indulged+in+frenetic+dances+like+the+polka%2C+the+cancan%2C+and+the+galop.+Masks+and+disguises+freed+people+from+class-+and+gender-based+codes+of+conduct.+During+carnival%2C+women+indulged+in+dressing+up+like+men+and+in+approximating+other+male+behaviors%2C+such+as+cigar+smoking%2C+flirting%2C+and+even+picking+up+sexual+partners.%0ACross-dressing+outside+of+carnival+was+prohibited+without+written+permission+from+the+authorities.+The+law+requiring+women+to+seek+special+permission+for+wearing+trousers+was+not+removed+from+the+books+until+2013.+%0A%0A%3C/p%3E&click_thru=http%3A%2F%2Flibbymurphy.com%2Fhumancomedy%2Falbums%2Fparis-carnival%2F){kind=link}
THE MASKED BALL In Gavarni’s day, the Paris carnival was the most popular carnival in Europe, more popular even than the one in Venice. The period leading up to Lent was a time for parades, feasts, and celebrations in which decorum and social hierarchies were temporarily suspended. During carnival, public, private, and semi-private costume balls were held throughout the city. These all-night dance parties began at midnight and lasted until five in the morning. Traditional costumes like Harlequin, Polichinelle, and Pierrot were joined by original costumes by artists like Gavarni. Theaters converted opera pits into temporary dance floors where revelers indulged in frenetic dances like the polka, the cancan, and the galop. Masks and disguises freed people from class- and gender-based codes of conduct. During carnival, women indulged in dressing up like men and in approximating other male behaviors, such as cigar smoking, flirting, and even picking up sexual partners. Cross-dressing outside of carnival was prohibited without written permission from the authorities. The law requiring women to seek special permission for wearing trousers was not removed from the books until 2013.
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Les rats couchés
Paul Gavarni (French, 1804–1866) Les rats couchés, nous sommes venus... (The rats asleep, we have arrived...), 1842 Lithograph…
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Voilà la petite
Paul Gavarni (French, 1804–1866) Voilà la petite… (There’s the little lady…), 1842 Lithograph Gift of Eugene L. Garbaty,…
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Tu danseras Coquardeau!
Paul Gavarni (French, 1804–1866) Tu danseras Coquardeau !.. (You will dance, Coquardeau!...), 1842 Lithograph Gift of Eugene L.…
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Y aurait-il quelque indiscrétion
Paul Gavarni (French, 1804–1866) Y aurait-il quelque indiscrétion[…]? (Would it be indiscreet[…]?), ca. 1853 Lithograph Gif…
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Oh! hé! viens-tu souper la Gustine !
Paul Gavarni (French, 1804–1866) Oh ! hé ! viens-tu souper la Gustine !... (Hey, are you coming out to supper with us Gustine?…