La belle occasion
1852
Edmé Jean Pigal’s 1852 print 'La belle occasion' (The Beautiful Opportunity) captures a cheeky moment of 19th-century Parisian mischief. A dandy in a top hat flashes a secret signal to a woman peeking from a doorway, while a large, oblivious man leans over a wall nearby, completely unaware of the flirtation happening right behind him. Part of Pigal's humorous 'Loisirs Pigal' series, these prints were popular for their bawdy take on everyday social interactions, turning a simple alleyway scene into a comedic tableau of distraction.
- Technique
- Hand-colored lithograph
- Material
- Paper