Ah! monsieur... faut pas lui rire comme ça... 1848

Curator: This is Honoré Daumier’s 1848 lithograph, “Ah! monsieur... faut pas lui rire comme ça…” The scene immediately strikes a somewhat unsettling chord, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. There’s an air of discomfort, almost aggression, despite the domestic setting. The sharp, wiry lines create a nervous energy. Is it a drawing done with pen? Curator: He worked it as a lithograph, after an initial pen sketch, it's printed. The exaggeration of features aligns with Daumier’s commitment to caricature, a method of using humor as social critique. Editor: And what is being critiqued here, exactly? I see a clear class dynamic. A well-dressed, perhaps portly, gentleman interacts, seemingly mocks, a woman holding a child. There is this air of someone out of touch laughing at or taking liberties where they shouldn’t. Curator: Precisely. The title, which translates to “Ah! sir… you mustn't laugh at him like that…” provides crucial context. He depicts the tension and indignity faced by ordinary people. The woman seems almost to be saying "know your place." There’s the use of social satire through the exaggerated physique and facial features of the subjects. Editor: I keep thinking about who gets to laugh, and at whose expense. Daumier consistently positions himself against power, giving voice to the marginalized. He creates a moment to ponder what we deem worthy of humor, and who is being denied the right to dignity within that space. What makes this man's laughter inappropriate? What hierarchies does it enforce? Curator: What truly resonates, I believe, is the timeless nature of the exchange. It reminds us that power dynamics and social hierarchies often hinge on seemingly minor interactions. Daumier's prints gave symbolic weight to fleeting encounters. Editor: He's certainly managed to create that effect. Even with minimal lines, the weight of social disparity is palpable.