Pourriez-vous me dire...? J'ai la grippe!... 1858

Curator: This lithograph by Honoré Daumier, created in 1858, is titled "Pourriez-vous me dire...? J'ai la grippe!...", which translates to "Could you tell me...? I have the flu!..." It depicts two gentlemen in what appears to be a tense exchange. My initial reaction is that the composition feels somewhat cramped and theatrical. The lighting creates a dramatic contrast, heightening the sense of unease. Editor: The scene presents a clear power dynamic; it makes me think about class tensions that are quite characteristic of 19th-century France. Curator: Absolutely. The plump gentleman with the striped trousers looms, while the other seems to be offering some document, possibly a medical bill if the title is any indication. This visual shorthand Daumier employs points to anxieties surrounding health and status. We can delve into the significance of illness as a societal metaphor here. It’s also curious to analyze how his attire communicates class, status, and perceived health. Editor: Daumier often used his art to comment on the social issues of his time, particularly through caricature. Lithography, a printmaking technique involving a stone or metal plate, allowed for wider distribution of these commentaries. One sees, especially here, how his caricatures served an important public role to critique societal mores and even, to a degree, influence public opinion. What did "la grippe" represent? Curator: Beyond a mere physical ailment, influenza in 19th-century France held a cultural significance. Epidemics were rampant and thus associated with vulnerability and even moral failing, particularly for the working classes. Daumier uses the ailing figure as a symbol of broader societal ills—poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and the anxieties surrounding social mobility. There's a visible discordance—an almost performative nature—to the character on the right. The face with darkened eyes. He looks as if it might not merely be flu…it is much larger than that. Editor: The piece is certainly charged with layers of meaning. Reflecting on our conversation, what strikes me is how Daumier masterfully used printmaking not only as a medium for artistic expression but also as a potent tool for social critique and mobilization, truly making art a force in the public sphere. Curator: Yes, I appreciate your point about its societal critique. And for me, the way he uses everyday scenes to weave symbols with psychological insight is also masterful.