At the Champs Elysses 1852

Curator: This lithograph, "At the Champs Elysées," by Honoré Daumier, captures a scene of musical performance alongside public consumption. The Harvard Art Museums holds this piece. Editor: My first impression is the stark contrast! The elegant singers against the more, shall we say, *earthy* audience. Curator: Daumier often used lithography to comment on the bourgeoisie. Here, we see that contrast embodied in the physical act of drinking amidst the music. The materiality of the beer versus the ethereal quality of the song. Editor: Exactly! The cultural and institutional context is crucial. Think of the rise of public entertainment and the evolving social hierarchy of 19th-century France. It's about how art is consumed, literally and figuratively. Curator: The print medium itself makes it accessible. It's meant for mass consumption, just like the beer! Editor: It’s a clever commentary on value. What do we value more: art or leisure? Curator: It makes you wonder about the intended audience and the economics that make these scenes possible. Editor: Indeed. It reveals the public role of art beyond the elite salons.