He delights in the ball, plate 10 from Les Banqueteurs 1849

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier’s lithograph, "He delights in the ball, plate 10 from Les Banqueteurs," created in 1849. It’s currently held at The Art Institute of Chicago. The movement within the image is captivating, particularly how Daumier uses line to create form and gesture. How would you interpret Daumier’s compositional choices? Curator: Note the strategic deployment of light and shadow across the image plane. Daumier directs the viewer’s gaze by placing darker forms—particularly the male figure and his garb—in sharp contrast to the lighter dress of his partner. The arrangement suggests a clear focal point. Furthermore, the figures in the background seem flattened, lacking individual detail, which concentrates our attention on the couple in the foreground. Consider also the lines; are they economical or elaborate? Editor: They appear quite economical to me. The background figures are created with very few lines each, almost like shorthand. While the main subjects have denser cross-hatching, even that is relatively sparse. Does this choice influence the overall mood? Curator: It does. The sparse, almost hurried lines impart a sense of immediacy and transience. The lack of meticulous detail forces the viewer to engage actively, to fill in the gaps, and interpret Daumier’s intent. In other words, Daumier privileges gesture and essence over photorealistic depiction. This technique anticipates modernist sensibilities regarding form and function. Is this pursuit successful? Editor: I find the artwork successfully conveys an animated feeling, while creating narrative through just a few structured marks. Thank you. Curator: A fitting conclusion; note how Daumier uses only line and tone to distill such rich dynamism, indicative of an artist masterful in exploiting the medium.