The Businessman 1842

Curator: Look at this lithograph, "The Businessman" by Honoré Daumier. The Harvard Art Museums hold this glimpse into 19th-century Paris. It immediately strikes me as frantic, almost Chaplin-esque in its energy. Editor: Absolutely, and the frantic energy is key. Notice the inscription "Justice de Paix" on the door he's rushing towards. Daumier’s using satire to critique the social structures of the time. Who truly has access to justice? Curator: It’s a pointed question, isn't it? The man, ostensibly respectable in his top hat, is rendered almost absurd by his haste, his spindly limbs. There's a palpable tension between appearance and reality. Editor: Exactly, and consider the caption! The businessman is dealing with a petty case—a grocer and hidden money. The image critiques class and access to legal recourse, reflecting broader power dynamics. Curator: Daumier’s talent was in capturing those little moments that expose bigger truths. It makes you wonder what was lost in translation. Editor: For sure, Daumier's brilliance lies in holding up a mirror to society’s hypocrisies. I think it speaks volumes about how we still grapple with similar issues today.