"So tell me, papa Drouillet" c. 19th century

Curator: This is Honoré Daumier's "So tell me, papa Drouillet," a lithograph held at the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes you about it? Editor: The stark contrast immediately grabs my attention. The figures are so different, almost caricatures, placed against this simple, almost clinical backdrop. Curator: Indeed, the figures are archetypes—the lean and the stout. Daumier often used such visual cues to comment on social hierarchies. Editor: Right, the text translates roughly to a jibe about buoyancy! It’s a cruel but pointed commentary on body image and class, framed within leisure. Curator: The composition emphasizes the contrast, amplifying the tension between them. A biting social critique through seemingly lighthearted imagery. Editor: It makes you consider how such images perpetuate harmful beauty standards, even when presented as satire. It has unsettling layers. Curator: True. And Daumier's ability to embed profound commentary within the accessible medium of lithography is what makes his work so enduring. Editor: Absolutely. It’s a harsh reminder that what we find humorous can also carry a sharp, critical edge, reflecting societal prejudices.