The Print, the Pear, and the Prostitute
Art, Politics, and Society in 19th-Century France

17 May – 20 August 2006 in the Fairchild Gallery

Students will be involved in the preparation of this exhibition, which will explore the power of the print as a vehicle of political and social commentary. From the satirical representations of King Louis-Philippe, depicted as the fat-headed pear, to images of the various types of women who defined the demi-monde of Parisian society, the exhibition will center on the caricatures by Honoré Daumier (1808–1879). Drawn largely from the collection of the Mead, the exhibition will feature selections from the recent gifts of Boris Baranovic (Class of 1958) of over 150 Daumier prints. Gavarni, Manet, Degas, and other French artists of the nineteenth century will also be included.

Opening Reception on Thursday, May 18, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fairchild Gallery