"Where is that bourgeois? It's the time where . . ." c. 19th century

Curator: This is Honoré Daumier's print, titled "Where is that bourgeois? It's the time where..." Editor: The mood is tense. I notice how dark the carriage appears, like a shadowed confessional. Curator: Daumier frequently used lithography for social commentary. The immediacy of the medium mirrors the urgency of the question posed in the title. Editor: Observe how the coach hints at wealth, a gilded cage. The figure emerging seems caught, both physically and perhaps morally. Curator: The print was part of a series, "Vulgarities," reflecting on the social classes and their interactions within the urban fabric of Paris. Editor: It’s about power, the symbols of class and the way they interact, a drama rendered in ink. Curator: The mass-produced nature allowed Daumier to reach a wide audience, thus prompting reflection on their roles. Editor: Seeing this awakens the past, reminding me how social symbols hold their meanings across time. Curator: Indeed. It speaks volumes about labor, access, and the ever-shifting landscape of social standing. Editor: Precisely. It seems we both agree on the enduring resonance of this piece.