Continuant ... Le divertissement des tables tournantes ... c. 19th century

Curator: This is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, created in the mid-19th century, titled "Continuant ... Le divertissement des tables tournantes ..." roughly translating to "Continuing... the amusement of the turning tables..." Editor: Turning tables, huh? Well, something’s definitely turning, look at the grim focus. The air in this print feels heavy, thick with anticipation... or maybe awkwardness? Their faces tell such a story of skepticism and deep curiosity at the same time, but for me I feel it’s so cynical! Curator: Absolutely, the print comes at a fascinating moment in Parisian society. The 19th century was ripe with spiritualism. Table-turning, where people attempted to communicate with spirits through a rotating table, became a popular parlor game. This print critiques this fascination, aligning with Daumier's broader social commentary on bourgeois society. Editor: You're right; it's like he's x-raying the zeitgeist. It really speaks to this tension between tradition and modernity. Look at the faces, they're drawn with such exaggerated features! Especially the guy on the right, all jutting angles and suspicion! It looks like a Renaissance grotesque... I’d feel nervous in such an attempt with these people, so skeptical and intense! Curator: Precisely. Daumier used caricature as a tool to expose the ridiculousness he observed. Here, the romantic undertones of spiritualism clash with the realities of a society grappling with industrialization and secularization, offering insight into class tensions, where spiritualism was seen both as a pastime and perhaps, to some, as a threat. Editor: What a fascinating mix of mockery and melancholy! Well, this print is more than just ink on paper; it's a captured moment of our ancestors questioning everything! The social commentary it makes while offering me so much more than that... like a portal, of sorts! Curator: Yes, a fascinating and humorous reflection on faith and the human longing for connection, however dubious that connection may be!