Don't shoot!!! 1865

Curator: This lithograph, "Don't shoot!!!" by Honoré Daumier, captures a chaotic hunting scene with remarkable immediacy. Editor: My first impression is the overwhelming tension! The dark lines and frantic gestures create a sense of imminent danger and absurd comedy. Curator: Precisely. Daumier frequently used satire to critique the bourgeoisie, and here, hunting becomes a metaphor for the anxieties and follies of 19th-century French society. Notice the symbolic interplay between the hunter, the dog, and the startled man. Editor: I see the hunter as a representation of authority, while the man entangled in the foliage embodies the vulnerable, trapped individual—a stark depiction of power dynamics. And the upraised hand—is that supplication, or perhaps resistance? Curator: It’s both. Daumier masterfully uses visual language to convey complex social narratives. His work challenges viewers to reflect on issues of power, class, and human vulnerability. Editor: It’s amazing how a seemingly simple scene becomes a powerful commentary on human nature and society. Curator: Indeed. Daumier’s "Don't shoot!!!" leaves us contemplating the absurdities and injustices that persist in our own time.