The Hypnotic Diamond 1859

Curator: Here we have "The Hypnotic Diamond" by Honoré Daumier, a black and white lithograph, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Oh, this feels like a jab at the ridiculous fads of the time! The lines are so sharp, almost cruel, and the faces…pure caricature. Curator: Precisely! Daumier was a master satirist. The diamond, presumably fake, becomes this symbol of societal gullibility. Notice how the woman's eyes are comically crossed? Editor: It’s as if Daumier is saying people will believe anything if it’s presented with enough…theatrical flair. The mesmerizer’s smug expression is everything. It’s a window into the anxieties of his day. Curator: It's an exaggeration, certainly, but truth often lies within such distortions. Think about the ways we still fall prey to illusions, to the allure of quick fixes. Editor: Absolutely, Daumier reminds us not to be too serious, to laugh at ourselves, to question the magic tricks of modern life.