Turgot: "Well, there, my poor Condé! It seems that they've taken my name, just like they've taken yours, for a shop sign!" 1867

Curator: Honoré Daumier gifts us this biting commentary, "Turgot: 'Well, there, my poor Condé! It seems that they've taken my name, just like they've taken yours, for a shop sign!'" Editor: There's such a potent sense of deflation here, isn't there? The once-grand Condé seems almost a caricature already. Curator: Daumier was a master of lithography; the way he coaxes so much texture and emotion from simple lines is astonishing. The print medium itself made his work accessible to a wide audience, fueling public discourse. Editor: Crucially, the materiality of printmaking meant Daumier could quickly respond to the political climate, using satire to critique power structures. A vital form of resistance. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a poignant reminder that even in the face of oppression, art can offer a space for reflection and, dare I say, a spark of hope. Editor: Indeed. It invites us to consider the labor and means through which art is delivered to the masses, a crucial step to understanding social justice.