Messirs Cobden, Gladstone and Brigth... 1856

Editor: This lithograph by Honoré Daumier is titled "Messirs Cobden, Gladstone and Brigth...". The cross-hatching creates a sense of movement, but the figures look rather displeased. What strikes you most about the visual construction of this piece? Curator: The dynamism achieved through Daumier's linework is immediately apparent. Observe how the density of the hatching defines form and conveys a sense of unease, a visual counterpoint to the offered olive branch. It is a masterful study in contrasts. Editor: The figures do seem burdened, even with the offering of peace. Curator: Precisely. Daumier's arrangement, their stooped postures, create a visual tension, a complex commentary independent of its context. The figures are visually heavy, burdened. Editor: I hadn't considered it that way, thanks! Curator: A close look always reveals deeper meanings.