The Unhappy Expression of Sculpture Exhibited in the Midst of Painting 1857

Curator: This is Honoré Daumier's lithograph, "The Unhappy Expression of Sculpture Exhibited in the Midst of Painting." Editor: Gosh, that sculpture does look unhappy! Surrounded by paintings, it's like she's screaming into a void of indifference. Curator: Notice how Daumier contrasts the dynamism of the sculpture, captured in mid-gesture, with the static, diminutive figures of the salon attendees. Editor: They barely register her anguish! I love how he uses line to convey mood. The frantic scribbles around the statue versus the more controlled hatching on the viewers. Curator: Indeed. It’s a clever visual commentary on the perceived hierarchy, and perhaps even the struggles, within the art world. Editor: Yes, it’s like, "Listen to me! We have so much to say!" A timeless sentiment, really. Curator: Precisely. It is, in a way, still relevant today. Editor: Absolutely, makes you think about what it means to feel unseen.