"Here we are... reunited to write the first issue..." 1844

Curator: This lithograph by Honoré Daumier, titled "Here we are... reunited to write the first issue...", presents a scene of women writers. It evokes a sense of intellectual striving, yet also seems to carry a note of satire. Editor: The cross-hatching in the print certainly conveys the laborious process of printing and the material realities of disseminating ideas in the 19th century. But also, what are these women trying to achieve, in the context of their era? Curator: Indeed. Daumier often critiqued social norms. The title "Les Bas Bleus," or "Bluestockings," was a term used to mock intellectual women. So, the image likely comments on the limited roles and the ridicule faced by women entering literary circles. Editor: The act of writing itself is a physical labor, made visible here. The women's clothing and hairstyles are carefully rendered, highlighting the intersection of class, gender, and intellectual pursuits. And the pipes, can we consider them symbols of female emancipation? Curator: Perhaps. The pipes could represent a transgression of gender norms, a visual challenge to expected feminine behavior. What’s compelling is how Daumier captures this tension between aspiration and societal constraint. Editor: It's a layered piece, revealing the complex social and material landscape in which these women operated. A reminder of the ongoing struggle for representation and recognition. Curator: Agreed. It encourages us to think about the physical act of creation and the social power dynamics that shape artistic expression.