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What is the goal of the print 'Nadar Raising Photography to the Height of Art' by Honore Daumier?

1) To mock Nadar's aerial photographs
2) To portray Nadar as a foolish buffoon
3) To humorously portray the ease of photography as a medium
4) To highlight the respectability of painting and printmaking

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The print 'Nadar Raising Photography to the Height of Art' by Honoré Daumier humorously comments on the challenges of the collodion process and celebrates the pioneering spirit of photography, rather than mocking the photographer Nadar.

Step-by-step explanation:

The goal of the print 'Nadar Raising Photography to the Height of Art' by Honoré Daumier is to humorously comment on the challenges and technical difficulties associated with the photography process of the time, particularly the collodion process. This complex process required the photographic plates to be coated, exposed, and developed while still wet, which was even more challenging when carried out in a hot air balloon, as was done by the photographer Nadar for his aerial photography.

Daumier's lithograph captures the comedy and respectability of both photography and the arts by portraying Nadar in a hot air balloon, surrounded by photographic equipment, loftily taking his photography to new heights. It does not mock Nadar as a foolish buffoon but instead lampoons the situation, celebrating the pioneering spirit of photography, which was a growing but still uncertain medium.

User Chris Chiasson
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