The Day after the Wedding 1839

Editor: So, this is Honoré Daumier’s, “The Day After the Wedding”. It's a pretty raw sketch, all done in pencil. The woman's expression is intense – almost gleeful? What’s your take on what Daumier's trying to say here? Curator: Gleeful indeed! I think Daumier captures a social commentary with his signature wit. Look at the contrast – the haggard bride, practically vibrating with, perhaps, satisfaction? and the groom, utterly knocked out. Editor: So, it's about power dynamics? Curator: Precisely! Daumier excelled at skewering bourgeois norms. It's less a celebration of love, and more a sly observation on transactional relationships. What do you think the hidden story of this image is? Editor: I get it. There's so much beneath the surface, even in a quick sketch. This was fun! Curator: Absolutely! It makes you think about the unvarnished truth beneath the societal veneer, doesn't it?