A Gentleman's Farewell

This French lithograph satirizes a political departure, showing a well-dressed man tipping his hat while a bride-like figure waves goodbye at a country inn. The scene ridicules through visual pun and gesture—the gentleman's exaggerated civility masks an awkward or disreputable exit. The print descends from 18th-century satirical traditions of Gillray and Rowlandson, using caricature and domestic comedy to comment on public figures. As lithography democratized printmaking in the 19th century, such images circulated widely, shaping visual humor that eventually fed into sequential narrative forms. The work reflects how political satire operated through recognizable types and theatrical poses rather than explicit labels, relying on viewers' knowledge of current events to decode its target and message.