"Explain to me, then, Mr. Badoulard..." 1851

Curator: This is Daumier's lithograph, "Explain to me, then, Mr. Badoulard..." It depicts three men in uniform, seemingly in conversation. What strikes you most about the piece? Editor: Well, the way the figures are drawn, almost caricatured, gives it a satirical edge. How does this work engage with the social or political context of its time? Curator: Daumier was a master of social critique. He used caricature to expose the hypocrisy and absurdity of the ruling class. The lithograph is one of a series made for the magazine Le Charivari. The question of authority and fear is really present here. It makes you wonder about the role of propaganda. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way, it's much more complex than it first appears! Curator: Exactly, and that's the power of art. It invites us to question and reflect.