"Devilish, whining brat, go!" 1844

Editor: So this is Honoré Daumier’s lithograph, "Devilish, whining brat, go!" It strikes me as a darkly humorous, domestic scene. What underlying social critique do you see in this piece? Curator: I see Daumier using the scene to comment on the performative nature of domesticity. The father struggles with childcare, while the mother, a "bas-bleu" or intellectual woman, seems absent, perhaps prioritizing her work. What does this suggest about gender roles and societal expectations of women at that time? Editor: It hints at the impossible standards placed on women: to be both intellectual and maternal. Curator: Exactly! Daumier highlights this tension, exposing the absurdity of expecting women to excel in both realms simultaneously, while men are seemingly absolved of domestic responsibilities. Editor: I hadn't considered it as a commentary on those expectations. Curator: Art can act as a mirror, reflecting and critiquing the prevailing societal norms.