"But I just told you, it's his ball and I'm his father!" 1847

Curator: This is "But I just told you, it's his ball and I'm his father!" by Honoré Daumier. Editor: Gosh, talk about fatherly love looking a bit... intense! It has a frantic energy to it. Curator: Daumier was a master of social commentary, and this piece is no exception. It's a commentary on the absurdity of authority, particularly parental authority, within the rigid social structures of 19th-century France. Editor: Right! I see it. The pompous dad with the little boy in tow. It feels almost theatrical, like a scene from a dark comedy. It also makes me think about how ridiculous the patriarchy can be! Curator: Exactly. The father figure, so desperate to assert his dominance, becomes almost comical. The text confirms the power dynamic. Editor: I feel that Daumier captures a very specific kind of anxiety and desperation. Curator: It's a powerful snapshot of a society grappling with changing power dynamics. Editor: Makes you think, doesn't it?