Le Jour de l'an 1852

Honoré Daumier’s lithograph presents us with a vignette of Parisian life, capturing a moment of social exchange on New Year’s Day. The stark contrast in attire speaks volumes: the bourgeois gentleman, with his top hat and cane, engages with a working-class figure, perhaps a concierge, his humble apron suggesting his station. The act of giving and receiving, a ritual as old as time, is laden with symbolism. Think of the Roman custom of *strenae*, gifts exchanged to ensure good fortune in the new year, a tradition imbued with hope and anxiety. The humble gratuity, offered with a deferential posture, echoes the countless depictions of supplication found in ancient votive offerings. This simple gesture carries the weight of centuries. It has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings, reflecting our collective, subconscious desire for harmony and prosperity.