The pupils of the Institute Pascareau are trying their new school uniform which makes them look a little like the great Napoleon and a lot like little newspaper boys, plate 25 from Professeurs Et Moutards Possibly 1846

Curator: Honoré Daumier's lithograph, possibly from 1846, titled "The pupils of the Institute Pascareau are trying their new school uniform which makes them look a little like the great Napoleon and a lot like little newspaper boys," presents a rather bleak scene. Editor: Bleak but beautifully observed. There’s something Chaplin-esque about it, the way Daumier captures the stiffness and suppressed rebellion of these boys in their new uniforms. The faces are incredible—each a little study in forced conformity. Curator: The composition emphasizes this. Note how the linear arrangement of the boys contrasts with the teacher's posture. The crossing of his arms mirrors a kind of closure, a barrier against any real engagement with the pupils. It is almost sculptural. Editor: Exactly! And look at the varying degrees of...defeat in their eyes? Some look resigned, others bordering on mutiny. It makes you wonder what horrors await them inside that institution. And I'm drawn to the textural contrast. Curator: You’re pointing out, I think, how Daumier plays with light and shadow here. Observe how the hatching creates volume in the teacher's coat and how he uses line weight to define the contours of the faces, especially accentuating the caricature aspect of it all. Editor: The teacher almost looks like a drawing come to life – stiff and unyielding. The lithographic technique is superb, so much is conveyed by relatively few lines. This slice of Parisian life feels extraordinarily timeless too, sadly. I bet anyone would have been able to empathize with those young boys at that moment. Curator: Yes, and considering Daumier’s socio-political critique, the print resonates with the burgeoning societal tensions of the time. By placing these young boys in uniforms that mock both the glory of Napoleon and the plight of working-class children, Daumier is, in fact, inviting us to reflect on authority. Editor: And its absurdities. There's a biting humour there, I feel, amidst the pathos. The expressions feel extremely raw, almost exaggerated. And that picture of a twisted tree behind the teacher – so symbolic. It's almost shouting to us the overall futility of it all! Curator: A powerful statement. Reflecting on Daumier's mastery of line and form reveals his technical skill, but it's also his ability to humanize, which renders this piece truly unforgettable. Editor: I concur. It's an observation on the absurd that becomes a timeless study of humanity caught in between expectation and desire, conformity and individuality. I wonder if anyone still remembers what the uniforms actually look like or what this article made people think, way back then?