A bad law

Fernand Louis Gottlob

1906

A bad law by Fernand Louis Gottlob, 1906

Created during the Art Nouveau period, this 1906 sketch by Fernand Louis Gottlob titled 'A Bad Law' offers a sharp slice of Belle Époque satire. The scene likely mocks the controversial French law mandating a weekly day of rest; while the husband stands in his bowler hat enjoying his mandated time off, the seated woman rests her chin on her hand with a look of weary exasperation. The scribbled caption at the bottom hints at the real issue—'Not a penny in the house'—highlighting how a day off meant a day without pay for many working-class families. It’s a humorous critique of well-meaning legislation clashing with gritty economic reality.

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