Un réveil en sursaut c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have Honoré Daumier's lithograph from around the 19th century, titled "Un réveil en sursaut," which translates to "A rude awakening." Editor: It's striking how Daumier captures the raw fear and absurdity of a late-night marital dispute. The contrast of the frantic figures against the heavy shadows… it's almost theatrical, like a scene from a gothic play. Curator: Indeed. Daumier was a master of social commentary, often using caricature to critique the bourgeoisie of his time. This print is part of his "Croquis Parisiens," or Parisian Sketches, series, originally published in Le Charivari, a satirical newspaper. The image is captioned with a snippet of dialogue; the man with the pointed cap asks, “My wife, my wife?” followed by the wife crying out that her husband Theodore must have the colic because she dreamed she did. Editor: So, colic not as an infant’s ailment, but… more existential? A shared nightmare becomes a comedic accusation? I love the use of the nightcap. Its symbolism seems to evoke, both, the innocence of sleep but also a sort of foolishness, amplifying the husband's bewilderment. And is that a candle sputtering on the nightstand? Reminds us of vulnerability. Curator: Precisely. Nightcaps were common attire but, in the context of Daumier’s satire, it mocks the anxieties and eccentricities of middle-class marriage. It is meant to question the performative aspects of domestic life, and even ridicule perceived “feminine hysteria.” Remember, prints like this circulated widely. They weren't just art; they were fuel for public discourse. Editor: It all bubbles down to the human experience, doesn't it? We may not wear nightcaps anymore, but shared anxieties within intimate relationships? That certainly persists, as does its strange absurdity. Curator: Yes, the magic lies in Daumier's ability to locate, and frame, social commentary through relatable symbols. The piece reveals, that even if socio-political landscapes have evolved, our fundamental human fears have remained, very much, “à réveil en sursaut."