Winter Pleasure
1906
Fernand Louis Gottlob’s 1906 sketch, 'Plaisir d'hiver' (Winter Pleasure), captures a delightful moment of Belle Époque romance and modernity. A dapper gentleman in a top hat tenderly guides a woman in a voluminous coat into an early automobile, with handwritten text at the bottom urging them to hurry because the chauffeur is already waiting inside! It’s a charming snapshot of turn-of-the-century life where the exciting new technology of the car meets old-fashioned courtship. The loose, energetic lines give the scene a wonderful sense of movement, as if the couple is rushing to escape the winter chill for a cozy ride.