Mr. Keratr c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have Honoré Daumier's "Mr. Keratr," a lithograph print. I notice the stark contrasts in shading, and wonder about the choice to depict this figure with such exaggerated features. What story do you think the materials and production tell? Curator: I think Daumier is making a direct statement about the socio-economic structures of his time. Lithography was a readily available, reproducible process, allowing for mass consumption of imagery. It democratized art, but how did this impact the perception and value of labor, both the artist's and the subject's? Editor: That's fascinating! So, the medium itself is part of the message, reflecting on accessibility and potentially critiquing class dynamics through its very means of production? Curator: Exactly. And consider the use of caricature - how does the artist’s labor in exaggerating Mr. Keratr’s features comment on the subject’s own social position and perhaps perceived excesses? What do you think? Editor: I didn't consider it that way before, but now I see that the choice of materials and the method of production are essential to understanding the artwork's critical perspective. Curator: Indeed.