Man of the day No.20° - Caricature of Le Viscomte De Lesseps 1871

Curator: Let’s take a look at James Tissot's 1871 print, "Man of the day No.20° - Caricature of Le Viscomte De Lesseps." Editor: Immediately striking! The exaggerated features create a comedic effect, but the detail in the clothing is fascinating, a tangible tension. Curator: Indeed, Tissot produced this as part of a series for Vanity Fair. It’s interesting how celebrity culture then mirrors our contemporary obsession with public figures. Editor: It's all about the tools. Look at the shovel; the print captures the gleam and heft of the metal, but the surrounding barren landscape feels very artificial. What material reality is he really shaping? Curator: Right! De Lesseps was the diplomat who developed the Suez Canal, an ambitious project. This caricature reflects the high-profile and sometimes contentious nature of these endeavors. Editor: Notice how Tissot renders the cape or shawl - clearly expensive material; it contrasts dramatically with the rough dirt. Almost as if Tissot were hinting that colonial projects involve both wealth and literal soil, reshaped to generate even more capital. Curator: The contrast you observe aligns with the politics of imagery and public perception. This image, published at that moment in time, provided a specific lens to understand the prominent man. Editor: Precisely! It makes one wonder about the exploitation inherent in large-scale construction and, more broadly, about whose labor went into not just the canal, but this depiction itself, what types of etching and engraving practices went into the lines we see. Curator: This is more than just satire. This caricature makes visible the visual representation of power through print. The press amplified his reach while critiquing its very foundations. Editor: The image gives us much to ponder. Looking at the lines of the prints and the materials reproduced within, it is both reflective of industrial innovation, colonial exploits, and the politics of making.