In League 1867

Editor: This lithograph, "In League" by Honoré Daumier, it looks like a political cartoon with figures of Death and Liberty. It feels cynical, even dark. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a critique of power and its material consequences. Daumier, through lithography, a readily reproducible medium, made his commentary accessible. Consider the labor involved in producing these prints, the cost of distribution, and who consumed them. Editor: So, you're saying the very act of making and sharing this image is part of its message? Curator: Precisely. And notice the tools – the scythe, the sword. They represent not abstract ideas, but instruments of production and destruction wielded by specific social forces. The materiality speaks volumes about the political climate and its manipulation of society. Editor: I hadn't considered it that way. Thank you. Curator: It's all about examining the systems at play.