Boulayé (de la Meurthe) 1849

Curator: Here we have Honoré Daumier's lithograph of Boulay (de la Meurthe), a figure from 19th-century France. It's part of a series titled "Les Représentants Représentés" at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is that this is a caricature meant to provoke a strong reaction. The subject's posture and exaggerated features invite immediate judgment. Curator: Daumier was a master of using exaggerated physical characteristics to critique the character of political figures. The symbolic weight of the stout figure gesturing with his hand speaks volumes. Editor: Indeed. As a lithograph, we should consider the labor and materiality inherent in its production—the grind of the stone, the specific inks used to create these lines, the socioeconomic context of producing and distributing such images. Curator: The cultural memory associated with political cartoons—the lasting sting of visual satire—is very powerful. Daumier taps into that tradition with his bold imagery. Editor: Analyzing Daumier's choices in material and methods only enhances our awareness of how such an image could circulate and shape public opinion at the time. Curator: Right, it seems that we have both found distinct ways to appreciate the power of Daumier's Boulay through our own particular interests. Editor: I agree, thinking about the material conditions by which this caricature was produced reminds me of the broad accessibility the image might have had at the time.