All the Newspapers in the World 

Edmund Dulac created this watercolor, "All the Newspapers in the World," likely in the early 20th century. With fluid strokes and washes of color, Dulac captures an opulent interior disrupted by a sea of discarded newspapers. The technique is traditional, but the message is cutting edge. Notice how the papers, usually conveyors of public information, are here reduced to mere litter. This material transformation suggests a critique of mass media and its potential to overwhelm and desensitize. The sheer volume of paper implies a deluge of information, perhaps reflecting anxieties about the rise of mass media and its impact on society during Dulac's time. The labor involved in printing and distributing these papers contrasts sharply with the idle luxury of the seated figure, highlighting social and economic disparities. Ultimately, Dulac's choice of material and its artful manipulation elevate this watercolor beyond mere illustration, inviting us to consider the complex relationship between information, consumption, and social critique.