Changeant son cheval borgne pour un aveugle 1866

Editor: So, this lithograph is called "Changeant son cheval borgne pour un aveugle" by Honoré Daumier, created in 1866. It's pretty striking; the lines are so sharp, almost biting. What’s your interpretation of what Daumier's trying to say here? Curator: It’s interesting, isn’t it? I’m drawn to the symbolism – the one-eyed horse exchanged for a blind one. What do those impaired sightlines evoke for you? Consider how throughout history, blindness has symbolized ignorance or a lack of insight, especially political naiveté. Daumier frequently used animal symbolism. Editor: That's true. The "John Bull" figure is interesting, like he's knowingly riding a broken system. But what about the horse he's exchanging? Curator: Look closer. The horse being exchanged wears the sash of "Ministere Tory". What do those figures represent to you, and what meaning might an exchange imply? Consider the shifting political landscape and what remains unchanged at its core. Editor: So it's not just about individual blindness, but a deliberate exchange of power that maintains a certain… lack of vision, no matter who's in charge. The symbolic exchange is continuous! Curator: Precisely. Political power is an endless, unchanging process where people at the top of any institution just shift spots while maintaining their ignorance of the population’s plight. Daumier’s recurring theme criticizes institutions by making their representatives figures of fun, fools who cannot actually see, know, or assist. Editor: That makes a lot of sense. I never really considered the continuous cultural meaning embedded in political symbols. This print now has many more layers. Curator: Exactly! And understanding that depth adds so much richness to our experience of the art.