Amabilities
1905
Created in 1905 during the height of the Art Nouveau movement, this lively sketch by Fernand Louis Gottlob captures a moment of Parisian social drama with a wink. Titled 'Amabilités' (Civilities)—a title that feels delightfully ironic given the tense body language—the scene shows two fashionable women and a bemused man. The woman on the right reaches out dramatically, seemingly confronting the woman on the left, while the man in the middle looks on with a smirk. The handwritten caption at the bottom reveals the gossip: someone is accusing the other of stealing their 'little painter' just to secure an invitation to an exhibition opening. It’s a charming, gossipy glimpse into the artistic rivalries of the Belle Époque.
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