Four Men c. 19th century

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier's pen lithograph, "Four Men." There's a starkness to the lines that gives it a feeling of unease and tension. What can you tell me about what you see in this piece? Curator: The expressions are so intense, aren't they? Daumier often used caricature to critique society. Noses were considered quite telling. Observe how they are drawn and consider what emotions they might be communicating. Editor: So, he’s using physiognomy here, like a language of the face, to convey something beyond just their physical appearance? Curator: Precisely! And consider how that language might reflect the cultural anxieties of his time. What do these faces tell you about power, status, or even vulnerability in 19th-century France? Editor: It's like Daumier is holding up a mirror to society, exaggerating features to expose deeper truths. I see it now. Curator: Exactly. Symbols can reveal a lot about the cultural memory they carry.