"Enough!" "My friends, but one more draught, I promise" 1830

Curator: I see a narrative of compulsion and social pressure here, doesn’t it? Editor: This print by Auguste Raffet is titled "Enough! My friends, but one more draught, I promise." The textures created by the etching are immediately striking, so immediate to the hand, aren’t they? Curator: Absolutely. Raffet, born in 1804, captures a scene rife with the politics of addiction. Note the power dynamics at play in the seemingly convivial atmosphere, reflective of broader social inequalities. Editor: And how the process itself—etching—demands a repetitive, almost compulsive action, mirroring the very subject it depicts. The labor involved in creating this image echoes the daily grind of those within it, their reliance on materials for solace. Curator: Precisely. It's about the intersection of class, addiction, and the performative aspects of masculinity. The "promise" in the title seems laced with societal expectations and pressures to conform. Editor: Yes, the consumption of the etching materials—acids, plates—to produce this commentary on consumption is ironically compelling. A stark reminder of the cycles of production and decay in both art and life. Curator: I agree. This piece, seemingly about a simple gathering, is actually a complex reflection on social structures and individual agency. Editor: Right, seeing it this way allows us to contemplate how such methods and materials contribute to the artwork’s message and affect.