The Wages Do Not Permit Refreshments 1830

Curator: Here we have Auguste Raffet's lithograph, "The Wages Do Not Permit Refreshments." Editor: It’s stark; the grays convey a sense of exhaustion. Is that a column of soldiers trudging wearily? Curator: Indeed. Raffet, born in 1804, was known for depicting military life. The title suggests a direct commentary on the economic realities faced by these soldiers. Editor: Lithography allowed for mass production, making it accessible. Was Raffet critiquing social stratification through this piece? Curator: Precisely. The medium, lithography, amplifies the message. His focus on the everyday soldier challenges traditional glorifications of war, emphasizing their material conditions. Editor: The composition pushes the viewer into the scene, further heightening the contrast between labor and compensation. Curator: Raffet masterfully utilizes accessible production to bring attention to the soldier's experience. Editor: It is clear that Raffet’s aesthetic choices mirror the plight of these underpaid soldiers.