Jean-Baptiste Dumas 1850

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier's caricature of Jean-Baptiste Dumas, created sometime in the 19th century. It's a lithograph, and Dumas is portrayed wearing an apron amidst laboratory equipment. The print medium itself feels significant. What's your take? Curator: As a lithograph, we must consider its reproducibility and accessibility. Daumier, through this relatively inexpensive method, circulated his commentary widely. The image’s power lies not just in its artistic merit, but in its means of production and dissemination, reaching a broader audience than a painting ever could. How does this democratizing aspect of the medium influence your reading? Editor: That's a good point. I hadn't considered the social impact of lithography. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Remembering the means of artmaking provides useful context for understanding its cultural impact.