The Waiter in Black Suits. Funeral of the tip box, plate 2 from Croquis Parisiens Possibly 1855

Editor: This lithograph, “The Waiter in Black Suits. Funeral of the tip box, plate 2 from Croquis Parisiens” by Honoré Daumier, possibly from 1855, depicts a somber procession. There’s a strange feeling of exaggerated sorrow; the figures are elongated and almost comical in their grief. What strikes you about the visual composition here? Curator: Indeed. Let us consider the interplay of line and form. Note how Daumier utilizes stark lines to define the contours of the figures, lending a graphic quality to the composition. The curvature of the slumped postures contrasted against the rigid verticals of their attire and walking stick creates a visual rhythm that oscillates between sorrow and satire. Editor: The ‘tip box’ they are carrying looks quite ornate for a receptacle of gratuities. And I see the text "MORT". What could the vessel and reversed inscription on the vase represent? Curator: Semiotically, we may interpret the tip box as more than its literal function. Its ornate quality is deliberately jarring. Notice also that inscription "MORT" on the vase is reversed as in a mirror, so we get “TROM”. Daumier suggests a sense of disillusionment, that things aren’t always as they seem. Consider how the stark blacks against the paper contribute to this effect. What does this restriction of value accomplish? Editor: By focusing on black and white, it intensifies the solemn mood. The lack of color highlights the stark reality of the waiters’ situation and contributes to its romantic yet gritty feel. The limited palette creates a sense of severity and the linear focus helps intensify their sad silhouettes, as it forces you to study their long, saddened forms. Curator: Precisely. Through formal analysis, we've deciphered Daumier's employment of line, form, and value as not merely descriptive elements, but as carriers of meaning that elucidate the work’s sardonic commentary. Editor: I see the artwork and this lesson differently now. Thanks for illuminating how these choices contribute to its overall impact.