"Don't go near the lamp wick!..." 1846

Curator: Oh, look, "Don't go near the lamp wick!..." by Honoré Daumier. I find it so dramatically funny, like a scene from a play. The use of shadow is just masterful. Editor: It's wonderfully absurd, isn't it? A palpable sense of dread emanating from what looks like…well, a slightly oversized shadow puppet show. I love how it lampoons the fears of the bourgeoisie. Curator: Exactly. There's that fear, but I find the couple's reaction so… theatrical! And it really speaks to a certain kind of social satire that Daumier did so well. Editor: Daumier's work often served as social commentary. This print, like many others, reveals a skepticism toward authority and a keen understanding of human foibles within social structures. Curator: Absolutely. It's a giggle in charcoal, isn't it? A dark giggle, but a giggle nonetheless. Editor: Yes, a giggle with a historical sting.