Robert Macaire commis-voyageur c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, dating to the 19th century, titled “Robert Macaire commis-voyageur.” The phrase suggests something like 'Robert Macaire, traveling salesman' to me. Editor: Well, my immediate impression is one of comedic unease, those figures look almost agitated or at least extremely anxious, and there is some element of social commentary here I think. Curator: The beauty of Daumier is that he combines critique with almost a grotesque realism. This lithograph employs caricature, exaggerating features to emphasize types. Robert Macaire, in particular, was a stock character representing bourgeois greed and unscrupulous business practices of the era following the Industrial Revolution. Editor: That’s evident in the body language – one man with an outstretched hand, and the other recoiling, hand raised as if to ward something off. It captures the tensions around commerce. What does Macaire, the figure of the traveling salesman, mean symbolically? Curator: Macaire became a potent symbol of post-Revolution France, embodying the cynicism and opportunism that took root as industrial capitalism gained momentum. We can view Macaire's widespread popularity—he was the subject of plays and prints, an entire phenomenon—as mirroring society’s anxieties and fascinations. People were clearly very wary of fast-talking business dealings! Editor: So this character wasn't just a joke then? It’s fascinating to think how social satire intertwines with psychological representation here. It’s as if in these figures and the scenes he created Daumier’s actually critiquing shifting values in a changing France through very relatable, even archetypal, figures. Curator: Precisely. Daumier understood how images imprint themselves on the cultural memory. Robert Macaire wasn't merely a caricature. Editor: I see what you mean, I came in ready to simply look at a comedic drawing but it appears it's so much more. Curator: Absolutely! Editor: Thanks for providing some enriching background to help interpret and dive deeper!