Don't You Meddle With It!, plate 20 1834

Editor: Here we have Honoré Daumier's 1834 lithograph, "Don't You Meddle With It!". I’m immediately struck by the contrast; there’s this monumental, almost defiant figure in the foreground, standing over…is that a crumpled newspaper? The whole scene has this very charged, political air. What's your take on this piece? Curator: Oh, Daumier, always the rebel. It's a visceral response, isn’t it? This lithograph, born from a time of stifled expression, speaks volumes about power and resistance. Look at that central figure – solid, unyielding. He embodies the common man, doesn’t he? Planted firmly over what's meant to represent "Liberty of the Press." Feels ironic, right? Editor: Definitely ironic! It looks like authority figures are actively trying to stamp out the press, they’re almost cartoonish. But the central figure seems to be protecting it. Curator: Exactly! Those scrambling figures in the background represent the forces of censorship, caricatured beautifully. Notice how small and almost pathetic they appear compared to our steadfast protector. I feel a David-versus-Goliath vibe here, but funnier! Daumier was jailed for six months for works like these... makes you wonder how much artists can impact society, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely! It really highlights the power of art as protest. Seeing it that way makes the print even more impactful. Thanks, that really shifted my understanding of the work. Curator: It is amazing how the socio-political landscape gives shape to such art. Knowing what it represented during the time gives it a new life!