Curatorial Narrative Andr Gill’s “Manuel du raseur parisien” is a prime example of the lithographic mastery he brought to bear during the late 1870s. Created in 1879, this work falls squarely within the French avant-garde tradition that sought to blur the lines between illustration and fine art. Its figurative subject matter is presented with a linear brushwork that serves to underscore Gill’s interest in capturing the gestural aspects of his models. The palette is characterized by a range of pastel hues pink, teal, and black set against a stark white background. This deliberate juxtaposition imbues the image with an air of studied elegance, redolent of the city’s fin-de-sicle culture. When enlarged to 44×54 inches, “Manuel du raseur parisien” reveals itself as a masterful exercise in spatial manipulation. The lithographer’s use of atmospheric perspective creates a sense of depth that draws the viewer inexorably into the scene.