“He has become a Laaaand-Looooord!,” plate 18 from Les Bons Bourgeois 1846

Editor: So, this is Honoré Daumier's lithograph, “'He has become a Laaaand-Looooord!' from *Les Bons Bourgeois*,” created in 1846. It feels very…pointed, almost comically severe. What strikes you about it? Curator: Ah, Daumier! He had such a sharp eye for social satire. This piece, to me, speaks volumes about the changing social dynamics of 19th-century Paris. Look at the body language - the newly-minted landowner with his cane and puffed-up chest versus the concierge, practically begging. There’s a palpable tension, isn't there? Editor: Absolutely! He looks so self-satisfied. Do you think it's meant to be a general commentary, or targeted at a specific type of person? Curator: It’s definitely a broader commentary on the aspirations and sometimes the ridiculousness of the rising bourgeois class. The title itself is dripping with sarcasm, no? Daumier is poking fun at the inflated egos of those who suddenly find themselves in positions of power and wealth. Did you notice the incredibly precise detail, like tiny explosions of personality on the face? Editor: I did notice how expressive they both are, despite being a lithograph! Is it fair to say his work captures a particular moment in history? Curator: Absolutely. He immortalizes these fleeting moments of social friction, making them relevant even today. You know, I sometimes wonder if Daumier ever ran into one of his caricatures in the street. Awkward! Editor: I’d love to know that, too! Thanks, that really helped me see beyond just the surface of the image. Curator: My pleasure! Daumier always offers more than meets the eye, doesn't he? A little slice of life, served with a generous helping of irony.