In Belleville
1903
Created during the Art Nouveau era, this lively page of sketches by French illustrator Fernand Louis Gottlob (known as 'Tom') captures the gritty, humorous spirit of the working-class Belleville neighborhood in Paris around 1903. The scene is a chaotic mix of gossiping women, men plotting in a bar, and a laundress lugging a massive bundle, all annotated with witty, cynical captions about love and corrupt government. Gottlob was a star of satirical magazines like L'Assiette au Beurre, and his loose lines and splashes of blue color bring these Parisian characters to life with incredible energy. It feels less like a formal study and more like a visual diary of street chatter and daily struggles.