A Man Who Is Warming Up... 1852

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier's "A Man Who Is Warming Up…", a black and white lithograph. It feels so Parisian, so…wintry! What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, it's Daumier, so right away, I think of social commentary, a little jab at the bourgeoisie perhaps? Look at the title, so ironic given the scene is a blizzard. Editor: I never thought about that, so the man isn't actually warming up. Curator: Exactly! It's Daumier’s playful critique. Perhaps it’s about appearances versus reality, about the ways people try to seem unaffected by the cold realities of life. Editor: That's clever! Thanks, I'm seeing so much more now. Curator: My pleasure, isn't it fascinating when art makes you chuckle and think?