"Oh my country!!!" 1846

Editor: So, this is "Oh my country!!!" by Honoré Daumier. It feels… melancholic. A lone figure braving the snow. What do you make of it? Curator: Melancholy, yes, but with a wink! Daumier was a master of social commentary. Notice the falling snow obscuring everything? It is as if to say that political realities often obscure clear vision. The man's stance, bundled up, yet exposed… do you think it is resignation, or quiet defiance? Editor: I guess it could be both? A little of column A, a little of column B? Curator: Precisely! It is the beauty of Daumier. He captures the complicated humanity even in the face of… well, a snowy day and perhaps a bit of national disappointment. Editor: Well, I'll never look at a gloomy day the same way again. Curator: Nor I, after our chat. Onward!