Echtpaar wandelt met kind 1839

Curator: Here we have Honoré Daumier’s "Echtpaar wandelt met kind," which translates to “Couple Walking with Child,” created around 1839. It's a lithograph enhanced with colored pencil, and the piece resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My eye is immediately drawn to the exaggeration in the figures. There's a slightly melancholic feel to it, heightened by the rather washed-out, almost drab, application of color, yet with meticulous and very precise drawing on it, I almost feel the material is protesting about what it's being used for. Curator: Daumier was a master of social commentary. Through his caricatures, he critiqued the bourgeoisie, especially their obsession with appearances and social climbing, a prevalent theme in 19th-century France under the reign of King Louis-Philippe. Editor: And you really feel that in the print, don't you? Look at how the artist used a lithographic process to give a sort of artificial finish of wealth to this couple's dress sense, as though that print, that production, becomes an integral part of what we understand by the piece. It allows Daumier's class commentary to flourish on a deeper level, almost like he's crafting and manipulating the exact situation he's taking a jab at. Curator: Exactly! It challenges the accepted style, making this piece more than just an amusing image. Also, there’s the positioning of the child, detached, overdressed, marching alone in the landscape. We can also read into it, a subtle critique of the parents' ambitions, or even of the burden placed on children to fulfill those parental dreams. Editor: Daumier seems to be consciously aware of how these different materials affect us and allow a new message or concept to form around the work. Thinking about the industrial context from which both the lithograph print and color pencils emerge, their convergence in making this piece truly is what gives this image its lasting impact. Curator: A compelling argument! I appreciate how this piece manages to provide critical insights into societal roles while subtly exploring their foundations. Editor: Likewise, by emphasizing material, production, and reception, we deepen our awareness of the conditions that gave rise to the print in the first place, revealing connections that a solely historical overview could neglect.