Hugo Eying the Vaults of Heaven... c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Hugo Eying the Vaults of Heaven…" by Honoré Daumier. It's a print, and the figure is dwarfed by the celestial display. What can you tell me about the methods used to produce this lithograph? Curator: Notice the sharp contrasts created through the lithographic process. Daumier's choice of this medium, a relatively inexpensive one, democratized art, making social commentary accessible to a wider audience through mass production and distribution in publications like *Le Charivari*. Editor: So, it's not just the image, but also the way it was made that's important. Curator: Precisely. The means of production inform the work's cultural impact and consumption. It's about labor, materiality, and who gets to see the art. Editor: I see it now! Thinking about the printmaking process gives a whole new level of insight.