Dignity
1906
In this witty 1906 sketch titled *Dignité*, French illustrator Fernand Louis Gottlob captures a hilariously awkward moment between a stoic bourgeois gentleman and an affectionate woman. The man, sporting a classic bowler hat and a look of pure resignation, is being embraced by a woman who seems to be trying to cheer him up. The handwritten caption at the bottom reveals the punchline: she asks why he's sulking ('Pourquoi fais-tu la tête?'), and he complains about being forced to read a Marquise's memoirs and ghostwrite love letters for a scandalous figure. It’s a perfect slice of Belle Époque humor, poking fun at the rigid 'dignity' of the upper class when faced with messy romantic realities.
- Technique
- Pencil sketch
- Material
- Paper
Views: 5