A Day of Celebration and Suspenders 1844

Editor: So, this is Honoré Daumier’s, "A Day of Celebration and Suspenders." It looks like a lithograph, maybe from the mid-19th century. It feels domestic, but the man's expression is a bit weary. What can you tell me about the materials and context here? Curator: Consider the lithographic process. It democratized image production, enabling Daumier's social commentary to reach a broad audience. The materiality reflects a shift towards mass consumption and the rise of the bourgeoisie, wouldn't you agree? Editor: I suppose so. The suspenders then become less about function and more about…status? Curator: Precisely. The labor involved in their creation and the implied consumption speak volumes about social dynamics. The image is not just about the suspenders, but about the system that produces and values them. I hadn't thought of it that way before. Editor: Me neither. It's fascinating how the material aspects reveal so much about the social fabric.