The Pleasures of Fishing. “- You are always in such a rush - Good God, we only just got here at noon and it is now only a quarter past five - Just give me a little more time, I am sure I'll end by catching one,” plate 50 from Moeurs Conjugales 1842

Editor: This is "The Pleasures of Fishing" by Honoré Daumier, created in 1842. It's a lithograph, so a print made from a stone. The way the figures are drawn is quite striking— almost exaggerated. The woman seems particularly impatient, creating a humorous dynamic. What catches your eye when you look at this print? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the formal arrangement of the composition. Notice how the umbrella held by the woman acts as a central fulcrum, balancing the darker mass of the man on the left with the intricate details of her dress and expression on the right. This deliberate placement creates a visual tension, would you agree? Editor: I do see how the umbrella anchors the piece, and how it leads my eye through the contrast of values on each side of it! Can you elaborate more on that tension? Curator: It arises from the interplay between the detailed hatching and cross-hatching, which provides volume and texture and therefore implies a heaviness, in contrast to the expansiveness of the lightly suggested background. Note the expressive quality of the line, particularly in the faces, versus the static weightiness of their postures and the scenery overall. Consider how the artist plays with the expectations of realism within the established artistic traditions of lithography, creating this visually arresting print. Editor: That’s a great observation. I never thought about the textures creating so much tension within an artwork! It almost feels like there's a hidden meaning beyond just the humour. Curator: Indeed. The artist uses form to reflect meaning; to see tension portrayed within this narrative setting really enhances how one would experience the print.