Comment trouvez-vous ce petit vin-la... 1845

Editor: So, this is Honoré Daumier's lithograph, "Comment trouvez-vous ce petit vin-la..." from 1845. It's French for, roughly, "How do you find this little wine?" The scratchy lines and slightly exaggerated figures give it a humorous, satirical feel. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: It makes me think of fleeting moments captured in time, doesn’t it? Daumier's lithographs are like witty observations jotted down on paper. This scene, with the two men sampling wine against the backdrop of laborers and a colossal wine vat, it feels like a commentary on social class. Notice how the figures are composed. Does the formal dress suggest a class difference to you? Editor: Definitely. The contrast between the wine tasters and the workers in the background is pretty stark. I guess I'm wondering, is Daumier poking fun at the wealthy, or just depicting a slice of life? Curator: Maybe both. Daumier was a master of seeing the humour and the pathos in everyday life, never one without the other, mind you. Look at the expressions - there’s a hint of judgment, perhaps even self-importance in the taster’s faces, wouldn't you say? Editor: I see that! There’s almost a theatrical quality to it, as if they are performing for an audience. And is that wine gushing from the cask symbolic of anything else? Curator: Ah, a keen eye! Maybe it symbolises the unending source of wealth. Consider the era and what the revolution meant, perhaps a never ending cycle of hard labour and production fueling that wealth? Daumier rarely leaves us with simple answers, only layers of questions. Editor: I never thought about that... This lithograph does make me think about social commentary through humor and visual cues. The artist definitely uses a bit of symbolism. Curator: Precisely. And next time you sip wine, reflect upon whose labour put it in your glass, or just relish the beauty Daumier unveiled to you today!