"Listen then constable . . ." c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have Honoré Daumier's lithograph, "Listen then constable . . ." currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The immediate feel is one of absurdity—the frantic gesture of the figure contrasts sharply with the constable's rigid stance. It's comical, almost theatrical. Curator: Exactly! Daumier, a master of social satire, often used his art to critique the bourgeoisie and the justice system. The constable, a symbol of authority, is confronted by a disheveled man. Editor: I notice the headdress, the robe, the bare feet. It almost evokes an iconic birth scene, but twisted through a lens of social criticism. The viewer then becomes implicated in judging the man's plea. Curator: Yes, and consider the man’s urgency, his appeal to the law. Daumier hints at the absurdities and injustices within society's own rules. Editor: So Daumier reveals the cultural weight of justice, but uses humor to question its true application? Curator: Precisely! Daumier makes us reflect on the social order and its discontents. Editor: That's a powerful way to reveal the shared anxieties around marriage and social standing.