Les Journaux Napoléoniens sortant de l'Assemblée Nationale... 1848

Editor: This is "Les Journaux Napoléoniens sortant de l'Assemblée Nationale..." by Honoré Daumier, created in 1848. It’s a lithograph print, and I immediately notice the pointed noses on the figures. It feels satirical. What’s your take on it? Curator: It's crucial to remember Daumier's use of lithography as a *mass* medium. These prints weren't precious objects for the elite; they were rapidly produced and disseminated through newspapers. The cheap paper and reproducible lines are integral to its meaning. What do you think he was trying to *do* with this image, and to whom? Editor: I see what you mean! It's meant to be widely accessible and probably to sway public opinion... So, are you suggesting that it’s less about high art and more about… propaganda? Curator: Propaganda might be too strong. I’d argue it’s a form of visual journalism, deeply embedded in the political and social context of 1848 France. The 'Napoleonic newspapers' suggest a specific political alignment. But look at how Daumier emphasizes the *production* of these images, hinting at the labor and machinery required to create them and their potential influence in post-revolution Paris. It’s about control, censorship, manipulation. Notice the elongated noses – a not-so-subtle jab, mocking their ability to sniff out political shifts and adapt for power. Editor: Ah, the noses make more sense in that context, more about manipulation and shifting allegiance. How interesting. So by focusing on how this image was produced, who it was made for, and what effect it had on society, you're challenging the idea of it as purely an aesthetic object? Curator: Exactly! It's about interrogating the means of production, its role in shaping public opinion, and how it reflected and contributed to the turbulent socio-political landscape. Editor: That completely changed my perception of it. I was so focused on the caricature itself, but I now understand its broader impact, as well as its production means.