A satirical lithograph by Paul Gavarni, 'The Dinner of a "Protector of Animals"' critiques societal hypocrisy through the depiction of a man indulging in a feast while claiming to be an animal lover.

This lithograph by Paul Gavarni, titled 'The Dinner of a "Protector of Animals": A Side of Beef, Half of a Scottish Partridge, a Pint of Shrimp, etc.,' presents a satirical commentary on societal hypocrisy. Gavarni, a French artist known for his incisive observations of Parisian life, frequently employed caricature to critique social norms and human foibles. This work is part of a series called 'Les Anglais chez eux' (The English at Home). The image depicts a stout, balding man reclining on a sofa, a glass in his hand, surrounded by the implied remnants of a lavish meal. The title's ironic quotation marks around "protector of animals" suggest the man's professed concern for animal welfare is at odds with his consumption of meat and seafood. Gavarni's use of line is economical yet expressive, capturing the man's corpulence and air of self-satisfaction. The setting, though sparsely rendered, hints at bourgeois comfort and indulgence. The lithograph's satirical edge is characteristic of Gavarni's work, which often targeted the pretensions and contradictions of the middle class.