"François, who has drunk my old wine?" c. 19th century

Editor: This is a print by Honoré Daumier titled "François, who has drunk my old wine?". The scene depicts a confrontation around a table. What stands out to you about the material reality of this work as a print, and how it might relate to the subject matter? Curator: Well, this print exists because of mass production and distribution. Daumier used lithography, which allowed for relatively cheap reproduction. Consider the audience: who could afford prints like these, and what kind of social commentary might the artist be making about class and consumption through this medium? Editor: So the method of production itself becomes a part of the artwork’s meaning, interesting! I hadn’t considered that. Curator: Exactly! And what about the labor involved in creating and distributing these images? Think about the workshops, the printers, the vendors… Editor: I see, it's about making art accessible to more than just the elite, and commenting on their behaviours in the process. Thanks!