Reviens y donc encore ... grand enjeoleu! ... c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Reviens y donc encore... grand enjeoleu!" by Honoré Daumier, a lithograph from around the 19th century. The exaggerated figures and frantic energy, especially the dog, give it a darkly comic feel. I'm intrigued by how the lithographic process lends itself to capturing such raw emotion. What strikes you most about this work? Curator: The lithographic print holds particular importance when considering the social and material circumstances surrounding its production and consumption in 19th-century France. We can ask ourselves, how did Daumier’s ready access to this medium – enabling mass production – facilitate his role as a social critic? This particular print also invites reflection on how Daumier employs caricature as a material practice, challenging notions of fine art, while the scene is rooted in the lived experience of commoners. How do you think the ready availability of prints like these influenced the dialogue between the artist and the viewing public? Editor: That's fascinating. So, you're saying the very process of making and distributing the artwork shaped its meaning and impact? It becomes less about Daumier's individual genius, and more about the means of production, labor, and its circulation to society. Curator: Precisely! It highlights art as a product shaped by tangible forces. The grit and immediacy of the lithographic process feel essential to Daumier's satire. Consider, too, how the text, part of the print itself, collapses traditional distinctions between image and word, artist and audience. What might this signify? Editor: I see what you mean! The combination of the image and text makes the message more accessible. Considering art as a material process really opens up a new perspective. Thank you for making me see it in a new way. Curator: My pleasure. Examining the material reality of art helps us to appreciate how social forces sculpt artistic expression.