Aquatic fun borrowed from the old Greeks, plate 20 from Croquis D'été 1857

Curator: Here we have Honoré Daumier's "Aquatic fun borrowed from the old Greeks, plate 20 from Croquis D'Été," a lithograph from 1857, now residing at the Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: It’s surprisingly playful, given the era. Those figures half-submerged in the water have this exaggerated, almost grotesque quality, and their expressions, caught between pleasure and discomfort, are captivating. Curator: The title provides an interesting lens. It seems Daumier is drawing a parallel, perhaps satirical, between contemporary leisure activities and idealized ancient Greek pastimes. Notice how the water nymphs and the figures in the water both seek entertainment in the landscape, but with decidedly different levels of dignity! Editor: Absolutely! Lithography allowed for mass production of these images for popular consumption. We can imagine this circulating widely, providing a commentary on the rising bourgeoisie and their leisure pursuits. I'm also struck by the textural variation Daumier achieves with just lithographic crayon on paper; he captures both the reflective surface of the water and the rough texture of the foliage. Curator: Yes, and the choice of Greek reference speaks to a broader cultural fascination at the time. It invites us to question the construction of "high" culture and the everyday realities of recreation. Perhaps Daumier critiques the uncritical adoption of classical ideals by a society focused more on material pleasures. The half-submerged figures with those unkempt hairdos seem to mock those self-serious mythological figures. Editor: He seems to collapse the boundaries, challenging what is "classical" and elevating everyday scenes to something worthy of artistic attention, mass dissemination even! And doing it cheaply! The production of these prints must have allowed ordinary people the chance to own an image with artistic, even "classical," weight. Curator: Indeed. Daumier holds up a mirror to society, using ancient imagery to illuminate modern foibles. This piece offers both humor and social critique, demonstrating art's power to negotiate complex cultural anxieties through simple lines and tones. Editor: So it is then –a window onto the means, the messages, and ultimately, the meaning behind art created for mass engagement during the dawn of an ever-more-connected world.