Mister Concierge, Going Out for the Evening 1858

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier’s lithograph, "Mister Concierge, Going Out for the Evening." I’m struck by the figures’ expressive faces and body language. What cultural narratives are at play here? Curator: Note how Daumier uses caricature to expose societal tensions. The concierge, a figure of authority, is portrayed with an almost skeletal leanness. The plump gentleman’s hand gesture - offering money, perhaps? - speaks volumes about social hierarchy. Editor: It seems like it is making a statement about class dynamics at the time. Curator: Exactly! The imagery suggests a critique of the bourgeois class and their interaction with those in service. What lasting symbols do you see? Editor: The wine barrels, maybe? Symbolizing wealth and excess, with the worker representing labor? This helps me to appreciate it more.