Les Lorettes #52

Artist Paul Gavarni (French, 1804–1866)

Dateearly–mid 1800s

Mediumlithograph on white wove paper

Dimensionssheet: 31.3 × 22.3 cm (12 5/16 × 8 3/4 in.)

ClassificationsPrints

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Terms

Object number1953.31

Label TextAfforded luxuries like an apartment or expensive clothing, a lorette was considered a “respectable” prostitute supported by a wealthy male patron. Here, a man and his companion discuss one of the mistresses: “Where did you find this cutie you have?” “It’s my former mistress who led me to her...” “So you just grabbed the transfer.” La correspondance is likely an allusion to the subway. A rider transfers from one metro line to the other by taking a “correspondence” to get to their destination.

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