Dessert 1837

Curator: This is Auguste Raffet's lithograph, called "Dessert." It depicts a family gathered around a table, perhaps after a meal. The domestic scene is interrupted by a child playing the violin as he enters the room. Editor: It strikes me as a scene full of contradictions. Comfort and chaos. The dog sleeping versus the cacophony of the violin. Curator: The materiality of lithography is important here. Raffet used a grease-based crayon on a stone, allowing for the reproduction of textures and tones that mimic drawing. This process democratized image-making. Editor: It’s interesting how the artist captures the awkwardness of family gatherings. Some are engaged, while others seem distracted or lost in their own thoughts. You can almost hear the clatter of dishes and murmurs of conversation. Curator: Precisely. It’s a fascinating comment on the rituals and rhythms of bourgeois life, brought to the masses through printmaking. Editor: It certainly feels like a fly-on-the-wall snapshot, revealing the subtle tensions and affections within a family circle. A humble dessert indeed!