C'est bien décidé ... Je ne chasserai plus avec vous! ... c. 19th century

Editor: This lithograph by Honoré Daumier, from around the 19th century, titled "C'est bien décidé ... Je ne chasserai plus avec vous!..." depicts a humorous hunting scene. I’m struck by the exaggerated features of the figures, particularly the man being rejected. What can you tell me about the social context and materials of this work? Curator: Let’s consider this through the lens of its production and consumption. Daumier created this print for mass distribution, likely in a satirical journal. The choice of lithography, a relatively inexpensive printing method, allowed for wider accessibility, influencing public opinion and reflecting the burgeoning consumer culture of 19th-century France. How does the material itself shape the message? Editor: That's interesting. The roughness of the lithographic lines, as opposed to a finer engraving, perhaps contributes to the overall sense of a quick, disposable comment on society, right? Meant to be consumed and then, perhaps, discarded. Curator: Exactly! Think about the paper, the ink, the labour involved in producing each print. This isn’t some precious oil painting locked away in a private collection. It’s part of a broader system of commodity production and distribution. How does the print medium challenge traditional notions of "high" art? Editor: It blurs the lines between art and social commentary, mass media and fine art. I suppose Daumier is using these easily accessible materials to critique the social norms of the time? It seems that because it’s not in some gallery somewhere, the barrier for people to view and digest it is lowered. Curator: Precisely. By embracing lithography, Daumier democratizes art, bringing it closer to the everyday experiences and political awareness of ordinary people. I think by taking in to consideration that this could easily be mass produced, allows me to think differently about what to look at and analyse within the picture. Editor: Yes, I agree. Shifting the focus away from solely the aesthetic and onto the context and creation of the piece gives it a new voice.