...dussent-ils me maudire. Ces barbares parens... 1844

This lithograph is by Honoré Daumier. Titled '...dussent-ils me maudire. Ces barbares parens...', it presents a scene dominated by a central figure: a young girl elevated on a small stool, reciting poetry to an audience of older women. The composition is structured to highlight the contrast between the girl's idealism and the more grounded, perhaps cynical, expressions of her listeners. Daumier uses line and form to create a visual hierarchy, with the girl's slender, upright form juxtaposed against the rounded, seated figures of the women. The artist's use of hatching and cross-hatching adds depth and texture, emphasizing the materiality of the scene. This technique serves not only to define the figures but also to create a sense of atmosphere and emotional tone. Daumier challenges traditional notions of beauty and decorum, inviting viewers to question the values and social structures of his time. This challenges fixed meanings, thus engaging with new ways of thinking about power and representation.