#NAME? 1871

Curator: This lithograph is by Honoré Daumier. Editor: It feels stark. The figures are so sharply defined, almost brutally honest. Curator: Daumier's work often served as social commentary. He fearlessly tackled political issues. The print appeared as part of a series called "Actualités," suggesting its engagement with contemporary events. Editor: The man on the left, with his back turned, seems burdened. The shovel and the other man's outstretched hand, it’s all very symbolic. There's a sense of forced labor, perhaps? Curator: Daumier was frequently censored. These lithographs provided a relatively accessible avenue for criticism. Editor: So, the heaviness I sense really gets to his own struggles, and the visual vocabulary really drives that home. It makes you think about power structures then and now. Curator: Exactly. Daumier's work resonates because it speaks to timeless injustices. Editor: It leaves me wondering about the personal toll such commitment exacted from Daumier himself.