"I tell you... we need Mr. Molé..." 1850

Curator: This is Honoré Daumier's "I tell you... we need Mr. Molé...", a lithograph held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels very immediate, doesn't it? The frenetic lines seem to vibrate with nervous energy. Curator: The text below the image, part of the original print, adds another layer. "I tell you... we need Mr. Molé..." speaks to a longing for a strong figure, perhaps a return to traditional values in a time of upheaval. Editor: Structurally, the contrast is compelling: the seated man, rigid and upright, against the hunched figure, almost imploring. The loose sketching gives the piece dynamism. Curator: Daumier often used caricature to critique political and social issues. Mr. Molé becomes a symbol of idealized leadership. Editor: Yes, and that contrast—the sharp detail of their faces against the ambiguous foliage—really focuses our attention. Curator: Daumier captures a specific cultural yearning. Editor: Agreed; it’s powerful how Daumier uses composition to give the piece such a striking edge.