Will It Burst! Won't It Burst! 1870

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier's "Will It Burst! Won't It Burst!", and I am immediately struck by the lithographic technique. The looming cloud of "Dissolution" is so ominous. What can you tell me about its making? Curator: The method of lithography allows Daumier to cheaply reproduce images for mass consumption during a period of political upheaval. Notice how the labor of disseminating political critique becomes an integral part of the artwork’s meaning. How does that affect your understanding? Editor: That makes sense. It’s interesting to think of the work's impact being so tied to its accessibility and the means of its production. Thanks for the insights. Curator: Indeed, examining art through the lens of its material conditions reveals its deeper engagement with society.