The Past. The Present. The Future c. 19th century

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier's print, "The Past. The Present. The Future," from the Harvard Art Museums. It's unsettling! The figure's face is multiplied, almost monstrous. What do you make of it? Curator: Monstrous, yes, but also profoundly human, wouldn't you say? Daumier was a master of satire, skewering the powerful. Notice how each face seems to represent a different stage, a different burden. It is almost as though they are weighing down the present. Editor: So, the repetition isn't just grotesque, but symbolic? Curator: Precisely! Daumier invites us to consider how history and expectation shape us. A thought-provoking piece, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Absolutely, seeing those layers as time— it gives the image so much depth!