Claude-louis Desrais 1746-1816 The Unlucky Gambler

Claude-Louis DESRAIS
1746- Paris -1816
The Unlucky Gambler
Ink over pencil line
14.8 x 24.2 cm
This satirical composition presents an unlucky gambler in the center, in an expressive pose reflecting his dismay after losing his bets. In the background, the artist displays a panorama of popular entertainment and betting of the time: English boxing matches, dog fights, and cockfights.
Through this staging, Desrais delivers a social critique of the morals of his time, illustrating the consequences of gambling and betting on individuals. Claude-Louis Desrais, a Parisian illustrator and draftsman, excelled in the representation of scenes of morality and social satire. His work acutely bears witness to Parisian life at the end of the 18th century, documenting both the fashions and popular entertainments of his time.