Mid-Lent
1903
Fernand Gottlob captures the cheeky spirit of the 1903 Parisian Mi-Carême carnival, a mid-Lent celebration where the working class took over the streets. In the foreground, laundresses pause by their wooden tubs to gossip about a regal procession passing behind them, featuring a figure crowned as the 'Queen of the Laundresses.' This was a beloved Belle Époque tradition where a working woman was elected royalty for the day, parading in borrowed splendor. The handwritten caption at the bottom adds humor, with locals debating if 'Mélie' is a serious choice for queen, ultimately declaring the washhouse has found its very own 'Queen Mother.' It’s a delightful snapshot of social satire, contrasting royal grandeur with the gritty reality of the laundry trade.