Achille Fould 1849

Curator: This is Honoré Daumier's lithograph from 1849, entitled "Achille Fould." Editor: He looks quite imposing! The stark contrasts of the lithograph lend an air of unflinching seriousness to his stance. He appears almost judgmental. Curator: Daumier produced this print as part of a series of portrait caricatures of French parliamentarians. Consider the materiality: lithography was a relatively inexpensive process that allowed for wide distribution in newspapers and journals. It became a powerful tool for social and political commentary. Editor: Yes, Achille Fould was a very powerful banker and politician, so Daumier emphasizes the iconic symbolism of power here: the stiff posture, the stern gaze, the dismissive air towards the speaker on the podium behind him. Look at the ghostlike audience seemingly supporting Fould by simply standing still behind him, with their vague presence being somewhat disturbing. Curator: Precisely. He exaggerates the features, ballooning the head and compressing the body to comment on Fould's perceived arrogance and self-importance. It's about skewering the establishment through mass-produced imagery. The image challenges notions of art as solely the domain of the elite. Lithography democratizes the portrait, turning it into a form of visual critique for the masses. Editor: And by placing him in what looks like an auditorium setting, he suggests that Fould's ego might be taking center stage more than the proceedings themselves. This work, though technically a portrait, functions as a symbolic commentary on the theater of politics and its power dynamics. It certainly triggers thoughts about celebrity status within politics. Curator: Absolutely, by looking closely at these satirical portrayals and the lithographic method itself, we begin to comprehend the artistic practices as intrinsic to political discourse in France at that time. Editor: A wonderful exploration into the visual symbols embedded within Daumier's criticism.