"Monsieur Colimard, if you continue to ogle the dancers..." 1864

Curator: This lithograph by Honoré Daumier is titled "Monsieur Colimard, if you continue to ogle the dancers...". It's a snapshot of theatre life, with a distinct satirical edge. Editor: My initial reaction is that this image is a commentary on the male gaze, and how it objectifies women, even within the context of art. Curator: Absolutely. Daumier often critiqued bourgeois society. The binoculars become symbolic, a tool of surveillance and inappropriate desire. Editor: Precisely, that tool highlights power dynamics. The woman, presumably Monsieur Colimard's wife, seems resigned. It speaks volumes about societal constraints. Curator: The dancer herself is almost ethereal, a fleeting figure contrasted with the solid, somewhat grotesque form of Monsieur Colimard. Editor: The ballerina's body is being consumed through Monsieur Colimard's gaze, reflecting a commodification of the female figure for male pleasure. Curator: It is a compelling image that manages to capture a complex set of social attitudes and critiques in a single frame. Editor: It leaves me pondering how much has, and hasn't, changed since the era it was created.