Eh! Ben et mon verre ... si je n'ai pas ... c. 19th century

Curator: This lithograph is by Honoré Daumier, dating back to the 19th century, titled "Eh! Ben et mon verre ... si je n'ai pas ...". It presents a glimpse into a domestic scene, a tableau of perhaps everyday Parisian life. Editor: My first impression? It feels heavy, oppressive, look at that man's face bearing down over the table. Even the linework seems to emphasize that darkness. Curator: It's striking how Daumier uses the domestic sphere to engage in social critique. What we see here, I think, is a subtle commentary on familial power dynamics and social defiance during this era. Notice the clothing; it’s so carefully rendered! Editor: Precisely! Daumier’s mastery with lithographic materials, how he coaxes so much texture, especially from the man’s coat. It reflects the burgeoning industrial production of clothing in Paris, and also underscores his character's status, whether earned or aspired. I wonder if the artist worked directly from drawings from life? Curator: That's an intriguing consideration given Daumier's history producing images for publication. I’m always drawn to the child at the table—such an evocative representation of familial life. In addition to representing class tension, the child also creates a contrast within the frame between youthful innocence and adult indulgences, or rather vices. The boy's small stature against the looming man serves as a focal point of narrative tension. Editor: Exactly, there's labor depicted here too – the hidden labor of child-rearing versus the perceived labor of the intoxicated adult. I think a contemporary viewer, bombarded with print media, would have engaged differently. The lithograph offered not just a scene but a debate around consumption. Curator: It brings us back to how art functioned in the social life of 19th century France. It served as both a mirror reflecting social realities, and as a site to work out societal anxieties. Editor: It underscores the power of accessible imagery – what an efficient use of material and process to dissect and broadcast something critical to a mass audience. It is an interesting juxtaposition and combination of materials, labor, social classes and emotional tensions all coexisting within a single image. Curator: Ultimately, this lithograph embodies a unique capacity to invite conversations, allowing audiences, both then and now, to reflect on social structures and challenge perspectives, as its medium also reflected modern manufacturing of visual language.