"How I Am Sorry" 1840

Curator: Let's consider Honoré Daumier's print, "How I Am Sorry," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a lithograph, capturing a rather melancholic scene. Editor: Oh, yes, it’s all a bit deflated, isn't it? The stark black and white really heightens that feeling of lost time and opportunity. Curator: Daumier often explored the themes of social commentary and human folly through his lithographs. Note the figure’s aged features, emphasized by the sharp lines, contrasted with the idealized image in the mirror. Editor: The mirror reflecting what once was, perhaps? It’s as if she’s wrestling with the ghost of her younger self, a past she can no longer grasp. A very poignant moment! Curator: Indeed, the print likely served as a commentary on societal expectations of women and the fleeting nature of beauty and youth during the 19th century. Editor: Well, it certainly makes you ponder the value we place on outward appearances. It's a bittersweet reminder, even today. Curator: A keen observation about the cyclical nature of these themes. Editor: Indeed. A mirror to our own vulnerabilities.