As I Related Vigorously Your Case! 1845

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier's lithograph "As I Related Vigorously Your Case!" The robes create such a heavy, looming presence. What can you tell me about the materials and its satirical impact? Curator: Well, consider lithography's role as a *mass* medium. Daumier used it to disseminate his commentary on social structures, particularly the legal profession. The cheapness of the material allowed for broad distribution. Editor: So, the very nature of the printing process amplified the artwork's message? Curator: Precisely! The means of production become intrinsic to understanding the work's critique of power and class within the justice system. Editor: I never considered the medium as part of the message quite like that! Thank you. Curator: It's a critical piece of the puzzle. Examining the material and its context always adds layers of meaning.