La leçon de musique c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have Honoré Daumier's 19th-century lithograph, "La leçon de musique" which translates to "The Music Lesson". Editor: Well, immediately, the figures’ exaggerated features strike me. It's humorous, almost unsettling. The stark monochrome and coarse linework certainly amplify the satire. Curator: Absolutely. Let's consider the formal composition: the stout figure in the center attempting to play what appears to be a rather rudimentary instrument. His roundness is echoed in the circular shape of the instrument. Note the contrasting angularity of the observing figures and their placement, which frame and accentuate the central musician's struggle. Editor: From a historical vantage, it clearly participates in the broader Orientalist discourse prevalent at the time. We can see this specifically with Daumier caricaturing Chinese people in an obviously culturally deprecating way. Curator: Precisely. The caricature operates as a semiotic tool here; his jowls and peculiar clothing signal, through exaggeration, a foreignness and otherness easily readable by its 19th-century audience. Observe also, how the artist contrasts light and shadow, directing our gaze deliberately across this social commentary, accentuating those areas where he wants to elicit judgement from the viewers. Editor: Right. "Voyage en Chine" is also inscribed on the artwork itself, which would contextualize its purpose as a political print mocking those viewed as foreigners. This makes the seemingly lighthearted depiction darker and more critical. One figure off to the left is sticking his finger in his ear in disgust. The message appears rather evident. Curator: It's an important point. Considering his consistent use of hatching and cross-hatching, how does the overall texture play into the impact of this artwork? The artist's goal might be to portray some measure of verisimilitude. Editor: These lithographs are so complex. By looking through Daumier’s artistic and sociopolitical lenses, we can uncover how popular perceptions of Chinese people have historically evolved and been molded through stereotypical caricatures. Curator: Indeed. By attending to the graphic techniques used here, such as contrast and repetition of shape, the artist achieves a biting visual economy, that communicates a world of meaning within these few lines and shaded areas. Editor: Understanding its place within a historical continuum makes one quite sober about the artist’s intention with what might first appear an absurdist, innocent work.