Que faites-vous donc la avec ces civières c. 19th century

Curator: Let’s look closely at Daumier’s lithograph, “Que faites-vous donc là avec ces civières,” from the 19th century. It's printed on paper, likely for mass consumption in a newspaper. What jumps out at you initially? Editor: Well, the scene depicts two figures, and I immediately notice the contrast in their dress and posture. One seems to be an upper-class gentleman, while the other is dressed much more modestly. The gentleman appears to be questioning him about the presence of civières – stretchers or litters – in the room. How does the materiality of this lithograph influence its meaning? Curator: Precisely. As a lithograph, the image is reproduced mechanically, making it accessible to a wider audience, including the working class likely depicted in the print. Think about the implications of distributing images of social commentary to a diverse readership through the readily available newspaper. Daumier is using mass production to potentially critique the upper class. What effect does this distribution have on its meaning? Editor: So, the means of production themselves become part of the message, distributing these commentaries on class to all social strata... Is Daumier implying the upper class profits on the backs of the working class? Curator: Perhaps. Lithography democratizes art; this changes the value of the artwork in the marketplace. Consider what happens when the means of creating art becomes less exclusive, when prints become ubiquitous objects reflecting real events. Does this commodification devalue the unique crafted object? How are traditional art hierarchies challenged? Editor: I guess I never really thought about how much the choice of material can be a statement in itself. Now I realize the message is both within the image and embodied by it. Curator: Exactly. Seeing art through the lens of its materials helps us unpack social commentary and critique hierarchies. The material matters.