Une profession de foi 1842

Editor: This is "Une profession de foi" by Honoré Daumier. It seems to depict a social commentary with a stark contrast between the clothed man and the figure in a towel. What historical context informs this piece? Curator: Daumier often used his art to critique social structures. Consider the lithograph's original publication in a satirical journal. How might the depicted figures reflect tensions within 19th-century French society, particularly concerning class and public spaces like bathhouses? Editor: So the figures represent different social classes and norms of the time? Curator: Precisely. The "profession de foi," or profession of faith, could be a commentary on the performative nature of social identity and the inequalities inherent within the system. Editor: I see. It’s interesting how art can reveal so much about social dynamics! Curator: Indeed. It prompts us to consider how art shapes public discourse and reflects societal values, then and now.