"Of Course! It's like I told you!" c. 19th century

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier’s "Of Course! It's like I told you!" a black and white lithograph. It strikes me as quite satirical, focusing on these two older figures. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, Daumier was a master of social critique. Consider the power dynamics at play. Who holds the gaze, who speaks, and how does Daumier use caricature to comment on class, gender, or perhaps even marital discord? Editor: I hadn't considered that. It does feel like the man is dominating the conversation. Curator: Exactly! And what does the woman's expression suggest to you? Think about the social constraints placed upon women in 19th-century France and how Daumier might be subverting those expectations. Editor: I see what you mean, it does seem like a pointed commentary on societal expectations. Curator: Precisely, art as a mirror reflecting, and hopefully challenging, our own biases. Editor: That really changes how I see the work. Thanks!