"When in company you want to be able to take a really hard punch, put yourself in this position!" 1847

Curator: Daumier's lithograph, "When in company you want to be able to take a really hard punch, put yourself in this position!", seems to capture a brutal lesson in social… survival? Editor: It’s immediately unsettling! The stark contrast of black ink on white paper makes the violence feel so immediate. You can almost feel the impact of that punch. Curator: Daumier uses the lithographic stone to reveal the class dynamics within French society, framing the scene within the context of the bourgeoisie's expectations of proper conduct. Editor: The rapid, almost crude marks used to depict the figures suggest the haste and roughness of the lesson itself. It’s a commentary on the means by which the bourgeoisie maintains control—even through violence. Curator: Indeed, this work is deeply rooted in the politics of its time, revealing how social expectations were often enforced. I wonder, what does this say about the male ego and the performance of masculinity within this social strata? Editor: For me, Daumier exposes the artifice of these performative acts, revealing the underlying brutality required to sustain these social norms. It underscores how “civilized” society can be underpinned by exploitation.