Missus: "Here we are at the fifteenth of November, the weather's beginning to turn bad, I think we should begin to think of returning to Paris." 1864

Editor: This is an interesting lithograph by Honoré Daumier, titled "Missus: Here we are at the fifteenth of November, the weather's beginning to turn bad, I think we should begin to think of returning to Paris." The scene feels tense, almost claustrophobic. What stands out to you? Curator: The print offers a glimpse into the power dynamics of 19th-century Parisian society, doesn't it? Consider the wife's declarative statement versus the husband's mumbled agreement. Daumier uses caricature to critique bourgeois marriage as a transactional relationship bound by societal expectations and the changing seasons. The bad weather outside mirrors the tempest within the home. What societal expectations do you think Daumier is attempting to expose with this piece? Editor: I didn't see it that way at first! I was so focused on the visuals. Thinking about it as a commentary on marriage definitely sheds new light on the artwork. Curator: Exactly! By looking at the broader social and political landscape, the image speaks volumes.