"To say that now we have to give the correct weight...it's revolting!" 1856

Editor: So, this lithograph is by Honoré Daumier. It doesn’t have a date, but the title translates to, "To say that now we have to give the correct weight…it's revolting!" The figures look so indignant! What do you see in it? Curator: Oh, Daumier, always with the pulse of Parisian life! I see a biting commentary on societal hypocrisy. His caricatures weren’t just funny; they were jabs at corruption and the absurdity of the status quo. Look at their exaggerated features, the outrage practically dripping off of them! Do you think he sympathizes with them, or mocks their self-importance? Editor: I think it’s a little bit of both! He captures their outrage, but their inflated expressions suggest he’s also poking fun. Curator: Precisely! And that, my friend, is the genius of Daumier. A mirror reflecting society's flaws with a wink and a nudge.