The mother of Eros (not to be confounded with Venus), plate 10 from Croquis Dramatiques 1857

Curator: This drawing is by Honoré Daumier. It’s a lithograph from 1857, titled "The Mother of Eros (not to be confounded with Venus)," part of the "Croquis Dramatiques" series. The Art Institute of Chicago holds it now. Editor: Wow, the contrast just hits you, right? There’s this aged woman shrouded in shadows offering, what, a wilting bouquet? To a ballerina suspended on a sort of...cloud-swing contraption? It's heavy but fanciful at the same time. Curator: Daumier was a master of social commentary, often using caricature. What's fascinating here is the subtle critique of societal beauty standards and perhaps even the commercialization of art. The title suggests that Eros, typically linked with Venus and ideal beauty, has origins elsewhere. Editor: Absolutely, the 'mother' figure seems to be offering something of value, a sacrifice to uphold this performance, this idealized image of femininity. This piece feels particularly salient when considering the precarious nature of being a ballerina in a male-dominated space— the sacrifices, often unseen, to uphold this "beauty." And, let's be real, ballet hasn't exactly shaken its problems with race or body image, even now. Curator: Precisely. There’s also something about the sketchiness of the lithograph that adds to the narrative's rawness. It isn't polished; it has this urgent quality, capturing the ephemeral nature of the performance and, arguably, the illusion of beauty it peddles. Editor: Yes! That sketchiness allows us, demands that we, fill in the emotional gaps. It’s as if Daumier intentionally leaves room for us to question what that "sacrifice" really costs, not just to the ballerina, but also to her metaphorical "mother." The audience blurred in the background becomes a silent, watching collective, complicit perhaps. Curator: This really encapsulates how a seemingly simple image can hold layers of societal critique. Editor: Daumier gets under your skin, doesn't he? This image haunts, but makes you question your own desires. I can't stop wondering about all the hands that uphold and also dismantle it piece by piece.