Puffery
This lively sketch sheet by Fernand Louis Gottlob captures the flirtatious and transactional nature of Parisian street life during the Belle Époque. Titled 'Boniments' (roughly translating to 'smooth talk' or 'patter'), the drawing features four vignettes of elegantly dressed figures dominated by the enormous, fashionable hats of the era. Scribbled French captions act like early comic bubbles, revealing witty dialogues about money and romance—like the woman in the bottom right shushing her companion, or the couple in the bottom left where a request for a gold coin shuts down a romantic offer. It’s a charming, gossipy glimpse into the social dynamics of early 20th-century France.
- Technique
- pencil and ink
- Material
- paper
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