Au restaurant a 32 sous c. 19th century

Curator: This lithograph is by Honoré Daumier and is titled "Au restaurant a 32 sous," dating back to the 19th century. Editor: Thirty-two sous, eh? Well, looking at the man’s face, I’d say he feels like he’s getting thirty-two sous worth of disappointment. It's that kind of tired resignation only a bad meal can inspire. Curator: The print is quite a stark statement about the social disparities in 19th-century France. Daumier was renowned for his caricatures, often skewering the bourgeoisie. This particular work hints at the gap between promise and reality for those on a tight budget. Editor: Exactly! Look at the contrast – the waiter with his practiced, almost theatrical attentiveness versus the customer's weary, hollowed gaze. The waiter could be announcing the best dish in the world and the poor fellow wouldn't believe a word of it. It's brilliant, darkly funny. Curator: Daumier's skill with lithography is clear here, creating strong contrasts to emphasize the textures. This work acts as both a comedic and critical portrayal of French society during that era. It encourages a broader conversation about the economic conditions that dictated the daily experiences of the lower classes and how those disparities shaped social dynamics. Editor: For me, though, it's the sheer empathy. Yes, it’s a caricature, but it avoids being mean-spirited. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? That moment of culinary letdown? And I suspect this fellow has bigger problems on his plate, metaphorically speaking. It makes the piece surprisingly timeless, I think. Curator: Absolutely, Daumier had a talent for observing these dynamics and translating them into pieces that continue to spark conversations centuries later. Editor: Right. Well, after this I feel like something… maybe something other than watercress, for dinner.