Un Nouvel Anobli c. 19th century

Curator: Daumier’s "Un Nouvel Anobli" captures a moment of high society awkwardness, wouldn't you say? The lithographic lines alone give such a sting. Editor: It's all about the material conditions here. Lithography allowed Daumier to cheaply reproduce and disseminate his social critiques to a wide audience. Curator: The faces, though! That startled expression—it's as if they've seen a ghost, or perhaps just the painful truth of their own pretensions. Editor: I see the means, the class system, and the satirical bite, all thanks to a specific printing method. Curator: Yes, seeing the mechanics makes the meaning much clearer, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely, and it helps us see through the charade of it all.