Review of the Opium Smokers (A History of Trade Promotion) 1859

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier's "Review of the Opium Smokers," a lithograph. The figures are grotesque and distorted. What can you tell me about its context? Curator: Consider the materials: Daumier used lithography, a readily reproducible medium. How does that relate to the mass dissemination of political ideas and critique of capitalist exploitation of China? Editor: So, the choice of lithography is key to its message? Curator: Precisely. Its accessibility allowed Daumier to directly address the labor and consumption tied to the opium trade. How does this challenge traditional notions of 'high' art? Editor: That's fascinating; I hadn't considered the material implications so directly. Curator: Reflecting on the economic and social conditions inherent in the production broadens our appreciation.