How to Convince a Young Man to Finally Learn to Pay his Respects to His Parents, plate 26 from Professeurs Et Moutards 1846

Curator: Here we have Honoré Daumier’s 1846 lithograph, “How to Convince a Young Man to Finally Learn to Pay his Respects to His Parents," part of the "Professeurs et Moutards" series. The piece is held at the Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: Whew, just looking at it, I feel like *I'm* about to get my ear tweaked! All that frenetic energy crammed into a small space... Curator: Indeed. The "Professeurs et Moutards" series, translated as "Teachers and Brats", satirizes the societal roles and tensions between adults and children, or perhaps more broadly, authority and youthful resistance. The hat-holding man being pulled forward may represent traditional expectations forced upon the youth. Editor: I notice how Daumier uses really sharp lines for the professor’s face – that downward curve of the mouth just screams disapproval. Whereas, the son’s got these wild, almost scribbled-in features that amplify the sense of chaotic defiance. Look how Daumier suggests the other boys with the most basic marks: circles for heads, hints of features...almost angelic in comparison. Curator: The context of Romanticism is key here. Daumier is working within a movement emphasizing emotion, individualism, and a certain rebellion against societal norms. While genre painting offers a glimpse into everyday life, the added element of caricature transforms it into social commentary. Editor: You know, that upturned face on the young man has this... tragic quality despite the humour. Maybe because, it captures the eternal struggle to be oneself while burdened by expectation. A lot of conflicting emotions swirling within this deceptively simple print. Curator: A poignant observation. It speaks to Daumier's ability to capture a deeper emotional complexity beneath the comedic surface. The simple image reminds us about our own roles and expectations. Editor: Right, seeing this makes me think about the pressure to fulfill family obligations. Curator: And me? How symbols of respect have shifted... What reads as an assault now was then simply paternal pressure! Interesting!