Hearing 1843

Curator: This is Honoré Daumier's print, "Hearing", held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's stark. The cross-hatching feels almost aggressive, mirroring the chaotic reality of new parenthood it depicts. Curator: Daumier, celebrated for his social commentary, offers a glimpse into 19th-century Parisian life. The husband, with his frantic expression, contrasts sharply with the exhausted mother. Editor: And that screaming infant! It pulls focus, doesn't it? The coarse lines emphasize the raw, physical labor of caring for a child, something often glossed over in depictions of family. Curator: Precisely. It's a critique of the idealized domestic sphere, laid bare through the lens of the working class. Editor: A rare glimpse into the material realities of the family. It's a powerful reminder that even the most intimate moments are shaped by broader societal pressures. Curator: Indeed. It is a striking and poignant image. Editor: A stark reminder of the labor of care, then and now.