Oui c'est bien feue ma femme! ... c. 19th century

Editor: So here we have "Oui c'est bien feue ma femme!..." a lithograph and pencil drawing by Honoré Daumier from around the 19th century. The two figures really stand out in the room, one sitting and studying a framed portrait on an easel while another stands nearby observing. There’s a subtle, almost sarcastic feeling to it all, especially given the man's… dubious… compliment to the artist. What do you see happening here? Curator: Well, that sarcasm just sings to me. It's a classic Daumier – he had such a talent for capturing social satire in his work! The line, "Yes, that's indeed my late wife! ... I only find you have flattered her too much!" tells you everything you need to know. It drips with that bourgeois vanity that Daumier loved to poke fun at. Doesn’t it make you wonder about the power dynamics between the grieving husband and the artist, too? Who gets to dictate the ‘truth’ in art, the client or the creator? Editor: Absolutely! It’s that tension, almost discomfort, that makes it so engaging. Daumier's style too adds to that discomfort. It’s Realism but the figures are exaggerated...caricatured almost? It’s like reality, but slightly… off. Curator: Exactly. And that “off-ness” is deliberate. He uses the caricature to amplify their character flaws and societal hypocrisy. His lines might seem loose and sketchy, but they're incredibly precise in conveying emotion. Plus, consider lithography – a relatively new and democratic printmaking medium at the time, perfectly suited to spread Daumier's social commentary to a wide audience. It was an affordable, mass produced item. What do you take away from this drawing? Editor: That it is not as simple as it looks! There are multiple layers of historical and social context in this drawing and, to top it off, I hadn’t realized the process behind lithography before this conversation. Curator: Same for me, Daumier always reveals another gem to uncover. I will have to contemplate those client vs creator power dynamics further myself.