Jacques Lefebvre (1773-1856) 1833

Editor: Here we have Honoré Daumier's sculpture of Jacques Lefebvre. It's a bronze bust, and there's such an intensity in his expression. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, Daumier's caricatures always grab me! The exaggerated features, that almost sly smile… He's not just capturing a likeness, but a personality. It's like he's peering into Lefebvre's very soul, a soul, I imagine, full of shrewd wit. Do you sense that too? Editor: I do, it's almost mischievous. I hadn't thought of it that way before. Curator: Art reveals itself in layers, doesn't it? The artist teases something out of us. It's a visual dance! Editor: Absolutely. I'm glad I asked.