Turgot -- Eh bien mon pauvre condé ... c. 19th century

Editor: This lithograph print, titled "Turgot -- Eh bien mon pauvre condé…," dates back to around the 19th century, and it’s by Honoré Daumier. There’s such an intense, almost satirical, energy in this figuration. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The symbolic weight of this image lies heavily in its exaggerated depiction of power meeting the winds of change. The figure on the right, likely Condé, is drowning in ostentatious garb – the dying vestiges of aristocracy, clutching a diminutive figure, perhaps representing lost authority. Turgot on the left is presented with the 'Liberté' document, a burgeoning idea almost casually held. Editor: It looks like they’re talking to one another? What can you tell me about the text on the lithograph? Curator: Indeed. Daumier has captioned it, where Turgot says: "Eh bien mon pauvre Condé… it appears that they take my name as yours to make the sign of a shop." A stark illustration of cultural shift, yes? His 'liberty' is poised to supplant Condé's world entirely. It asks what the consequences are of such cultural shifts, of one icon dying out to make room for the new? How long before this is applied to Turgot? Editor: So the figures are meant to show an old, decadent world and this new wave of liberalism crashing? Curator: Precisely. Daumier cleverly utilizes caricature to highlight the perceived ridiculousness of clinging to outdated forms of power and identity, doesn't he? Editor: The stark contrast between the two really underscores that. It's more than just a drawing; it's a statement. Curator: Indeed, and statements often resonate longer than any stone or marble. Symbols live.