Trying to Fascinate a Rich Heiress with His Chest Tone 1852

Editor: Here we have Honoré Daumier's lithograph, "Trying to Fascinate a Rich Heiress with His Chest Tone." It's a pretty biting commentary, but what's striking to me is the process itself – lithography allowed for mass production. What do you see in that context? Curator: Exactly! Daumier used a cheap medium to critique a system reliant on economic disparities. The contrast between the high art form and the subject matter is very telling of the social context and the artist's view of the material. Editor: That makes the work's message all the more poignant. Thanks for sharing your insights! Curator: My pleasure. It's interesting how the choice of materials can amplify a work's message.