"Sir, I drink to you!" 1859

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier's "Sir, I drink to you!", a black and white lithograph. The figures are so distorted! What do you see in the composition that gives it this grotesque quality? Curator: Notice how Daumier employs exaggerated lines and caricature. The distortion serves to highlight the social satire inherent in the work. See the stark contrast and angular forms? Editor: Yes, the shadows and lines are quite harsh. It seems deliberate. Is the visual tension part of the meaning? Curator: Precisely. The distorted forms, coupled with the stark contrast, amplify the overall message about societal hypocrisy and decadence. It's all embedded in the line work. Editor: I see it now. It is like the form *is* the content. Curator: Indeed. Daumier uses form to convey the social message.