"Robert... you're no longer holding up your end of the conversation..." 1847

Curator: This lithograph, "Robert... you're no longer holding up your end of the conversation..." by Daumier, presents a stark social commentary. Look at the contrast in attire and posture. How does Daumier use material signifiers to comment on class? Editor: It seems like one man is scolding the other, who is inebriated. The material realities are stark. Can you expand on your interpretation? Curator: The fallen bottle and hat, the slumped posture—they speak to the material consequences of excess. Daumier is interested in how social standing is both performed and undone through material conditions. Editor: I see it now, it really emphasizes the socio-economic realities of the subjects through the materiality of the scene. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, Daumier's focus on the material details unveils a powerful critique of bourgeois society.