<<Dis donc, Bichette . . . à quoi songes-tu donc de te promener comme ça la nuit?>> c. 19th century

Editor: This is a print by Honoré Daumier, titled "Dis donc, Bichette . . . à quoi songes-tu donc de te promener comme ça la nuit?". It depicts a woman in a nightgown holding a candle, and the mood feels unsettling. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Daumier's work often critiques societal norms, and this image speaks volumes about gender roles and intellectual pursuits in 19th-century France. The "Bas-Bleus" series targets intellectual women, often portraying them satirically. How does the woman's appearance and the man's question position her within this context? Editor: I see what you mean. She’s presented almost as a disturbance, and the title seems to undermine her intellectual pursuits. Curator: Precisely. Daumier’s work encourages us to consider how power dynamics and prevailing social attitudes shape our perception of individuals and groups. It's not just a funny image; it's a reflection of the anxieties surrounding female intellectualism at the time. Editor: That adds so much depth. Thanks for sharing your insight. Curator: My pleasure. It is a reminder that art is always in dialogue with its socio-political context.