Study of Reverence for the Quadrille of the Lancers, plate 380 from Actualités 1857

Curator: Honore Daumier's "Study of Reverence for the Quadrille of the Lancers," a lithograph from 1857, really captures a moment in time, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. My first thought is melancholy. There’s something mournful about these bent figures reflected in what looks like a mirror; that paired with the lurking male figure really drives home a certain somber tone. Curator: Well, consider Daumier's lithographic process, which relies on the transfer of an image using a greasy crayon on a stone, then treating it with acid. He mass-produced these images for journals like "Le Charivari," inserting a critical viewpoint into daily Parisian life. It wasn’t necessarily about high art, but about delivering accessible social commentary on readily available newsprint. Editor: Fascinating. And those repetitious visual motifs. We see the bowed head echoed, multiplied through the reflection—emphasizing subservience. The stark contrast between light and shadow contributes to that weight too, drawing the viewer's eye right to those dejected poses. Those bent-over poses are universal signifiers for subservience across history! Curator: Precisely, this piece exemplifies the collision of high and low. While "quadrille" refers to a formal dance enjoyed by the upper classes, Daumier is capturing a different reverence – a required act perhaps, hinting at deeper societal tensions related to labor and gender. The very material, lithography, becomes a tool for democratizing access to such commentaries. Editor: True. There is that figure lurking. Is it possible the artist meant it to portray vulnerability, maybe even coercion? I'm seeing a distinct narrative there. Perhaps even an exploitative relationship is what we are reverencing through the lens of the mirror! Curator: Well, regardless of the underlying drama, Daumier successfully utilized his chosen medium, making commentary that would engage viewers across societal divides, forcing consideration of the cost of this ‘reverence’ the piece references. Editor: Daumier gives us so much to contemplate! The resonance of certain historical narratives and visual shorthand he shares stays in the mind long after viewing this plate.