A definition
1909
French illustrator Fernand Louis Gottlob captures a flirtatious Belle Époque love triangle in this 1909 sketch, adding a satirical twist to high society romance. A dapper man stands sandwiched between two women: one in a modest gown on the left, and a glamorous figure on the right sporting a massive, feathered hat and a luxurious fur stole that drapes almost to the floor. The handwritten caption at the bottom, titled 'Une définition' (A Definition), jokes about how a woman named Jeanne chooses her husband, hinting she picks the partner who offers the best social 'ticket' or mobility. The loose, energetic lines and the ornate floral chair in the foreground perfectly evoke the playful tension typical of Gottlob's work in humor magazines like Le Rire.