Insurrection against husbands is proclaimed as being the first and holiest duty in life!, plate 1 from Les Femmes Socialistes 1849

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier’s lithograph, "Insurrection against husbands is proclaimed as being the first and holiest duty in life!", from 1849. It's quite striking – a bit chaotic, but with such purposeful energy in the women's faces. I'm curious, what do you see as its primary message or impact? Curator: For me, this lithograph acts as a potent piece of social commentary viewed through a distinctly intersectional lens. Here, we are confronted with the anxieties surrounding emergent socialist and feminist thought in 19th-century France. Daumier is cleverly deploying caricature, but to what end? Do you think he's entirely dismissing these women? Editor: Well, their exaggerated features could be interpreted as mocking. But there's a defiance in their expressions that seems almost heroic. So perhaps there is admiration as well? Curator: Exactly! The phrase "Les Femmes Socialistes" sits at the top; we cannot ignore it. He is engaging with a particularly controversial discourse around women’s roles and their potential for disrupting patriarchal norms. The act of them grabbing at the hat, coded as masculine, highlights the tensions between domestic expectations and aspirations toward wider civic participation. Do you consider this a feminist artwork? Editor: I can definitely see the feminist reading, given the subject matter. However, the style - romanticism - isn't something I usually associate with feminist art, or social realism for that matter. Curator: Good point! Remember though, social movements are complex. Daumier presents a snapshot of a particular cultural moment, inviting us to think critically about these issues of class, gender and politics, rather than simply take sides. Editor: I see! So, it’s about sparking a discussion, more than pushing a specific agenda. Thanks! This was a really interesting way to contextualize the print! Curator: Precisely. By looking beyond the surface caricature, we’ve managed to untangle Daumier's nuanced critique and shed light on the turbulent social currents of his time.