"My dear friend, we have discovered that yesterday evening at the show..." 1845

Curator: This is an interesting lithograph by Honoré Daumier. It's called "My dear friend, we have discovered that yesterday evening at the show..." and captures a moment of domestic intrigue. Editor: It feels quite stark; the contrast of light and shadow creates a sense of urgency, almost claustrophobia, even within what appears to be a bedroom scene. Curator: Absolutely. Daumier was a master of social commentary. Consider how the print was produced; lithography allowed for mass distribution in newspapers like Le Charivari, giving him a platform to critique the bourgeoisie. The scene hints at gender roles and power dynamics of the time. The woman in bed seems startled as two men bring news of a duel, ostensibly fought on her behalf. Editor: And the lines themselves, the very materiality of the lithograph, seem to emphasize the starkness of the moral choices being presented here, the black and white of the situation. Mass printing afforded him the ability to create social dialogue through art. Curator: Precisely. It makes you wonder about the woman's position in this patriarchal structure. Editor: Daumier’s ability to distill such complex social narratives into these accessible prints is what makes his work so lasting. Curator: It's a reminder of how art can be a powerful tool for holding up a mirror to society, even today.