The Presumptive Heir 1843

Editor: Here we have "The Presumptive Heir" by Honoré Daumier. The lithographic technique really brings out the textures, almost like social commentary etched in stone. What's your take on its making and impact? Curator: Consider the materiality of lithography itself - a process of mass production making commentary on the legal profession accessible to a wide audience. The labor involved and the means of its distribution challenge elitist notions of art. What does this say about justice and power in 19th-century France? Editor: So, the print's availability is as important as the image itself? That's fascinating! Curator: Precisely. The consumption of this image became a form of social participation. Think of it not just as art, but as a tool.