"See, not to be unjust to anyone who loves the Danes, there's some good with the Germans...beer!" 1864

Curator: Editor: Here we have Honoré Daumier's "See, not to be unjust to anyone who loves the Danes, there's some good with the Germans...beer!". It looks like a lithograph, maybe for a newspaper? I’m struck by how the artist is making a social commentary. How would you read this artwork? Curator: Let's consider the beer, its very presence signifies a culture of consumption. The lithographic process itself – the labor, the materials, the mass production – speaks volumes about 19th-century Parisian society. What commentary do you think Daumier is making through these means? Editor: So, the choice of lithography is key to understanding his message? It wasn’t just about ease or cost? Curator: Exactly. The print medium allowed Daumier to reach a broad audience, engaging them in discussions about national identity and cultural preferences, cleverly packaged with humor and everyday life. Editor: That's so interesting; I hadn't considered the beer and printing process as active parts of the message. Thanks!