Mr. Étien...., plate 283 from Célébrités de la Caricature 1833

Curator: This is "Mr. Étien…," plate 283 from "Célébrités de la Caricature," created by Honoré Daumier in 1833. It’s a lithograph, a type of print made from a drawing on stone. Editor: My immediate impression is one of suppressed pomposity. The figure is rendered with an almost exaggerated curve to his posture, as if inflated with self-importance, but barely containing it. Curator: That stance is key. The hunched posture, combined with the subject’s turned head and the way his chin almost disappears into his neckwear, signals a specific social critique. It’s about the bourgeoisie in 19th-century France and Daumier’s commentary on their self-regard. Editor: Indeed, it’s technically astute how Daumier uses contrasting areas of light and dark to amplify that tension. The heavy blacks of his suit accentuate the corpulence, creating a visual imbalance that speaks to a kind of moral imbalance as well. Curator: Daumier worked a lot for satirical publications like *Le Charivari,* so this image and others in the "Célébrités de la Caricature" series served as visual barbs aimed at prominent figures of the time. This portrait, while perhaps unflattering to its specific subject, Étien, really functions as a stand-in for a whole class of people. Editor: And even removed from its specific historical context, it functions effectively as an indictment of power and self-satisfaction. You see that in the details, like the almost negligent way he holds his hat and gloves—symbols, I think, of entitlement rather than accomplishment. The composition’s stark simplicity forces us to confront these issues directly. Curator: The brilliance of Daumier lies in how he used these caricatures not just to mock individuals but to hold up a mirror to society, reflecting its values, aspirations, and hypocrisies back at itself. The lasting impact confirms the continuing validity of his commentary. Editor: It certainly makes one question who or what would be targeted by the caricaturists of today—different symbols and attire, but surely the same essential targets remain, clothed in modern garments. The stark form creates an ongoing relevancy that crosses culture and context.