Opzichter vermaant twee rokende wandelaars 1843

Curator: Today we are looking at Honoré Daumier's lithograph from 1843, entitled "Opzichter vermaant twee rokende wandelaars." It's part of the Rijksmuseum's collection. Editor: Well, immediately the figures strike me. The stark lines and the clear delineation of each form make for a compelling composition, it's got great contrast. Curator: It's fascinating to see Daumier using caricature in this social commentary. We must consider the rising middle class in France during the 1840s. Smoking, especially in public gardens like the Tuileries, was becoming a contentious issue, a marker of class and privilege. Editor: The supervisor’s posture, that erect stance and the way he holds the cane really focuses attention on his status. And those rebellious looking men are really fun. Their faces almost look childlike with how expressive their features are, juxtaposed against the man’s stern gaze, right? Curator: Exactly! And it ties in directly with Daumier’s recurring criticism of authority and the bourgeoisie. Here, the simple act of smoking becomes a symbol of rebellion. You know Daumier often got into hot water because of his caricatures? Editor: Of course. I'd say, look at how the lines convey not only shape but also texture. You can almost feel the roughness of the stone wall and the different fabrics of the characters' clothes. Note the contrast, as I mentioned, how dark shades articulate structure. Curator: And the location. The Tuileries Garden was a major space, reflecting political dynamics. We must note it was a space controlled and regulated to present royal power! Editor: This simple, almost austere image reflects much about Daumier's skillful and highly intentional visual rhetoric, not to mention socio-political tension during that period! Curator: I think Daumier’s prints allow us a quick glimpse of daily urban social control and of this rising social criticism toward the elite, thanks to the new technologies available. Editor: The print reveals, in its stark black and white forms, a study on class. That official has weight!