The Restaurant at the Exhibition. “- No clients at all… aren't these people hungry? - I guess that the hungry ones are eating the snacks they were offered,” plate 3 from Le Salon De 1857 1857

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, titled "The Restaurant at the Exhibition," in 1857, poking fun at the Parisian art world. Daumier uses visual codes to critique the Salon system, a state-sponsored exhibition that dictated artistic success. Here, we see a deserted restaurant, its waiters lamenting the lack of hungry patrons despite a crowded exhibition in the background. The caption reveals the cynical explanation: visitors are content with the free "crusts" offered elsewhere. Daumier, working in France during the Second Empire, frequently satirized the bourgeoisie and its institutions. His prints, published in popular journals, reached a wide audience, challenging the elitism of the art world. To truly understand Daumier's critique, we can delve into the history of the Salon, examining its selection process, its relationship to the state, and its impact on artistic careers. We can then appreciate how Daumier's seemingly simple image serves as a powerful commentary on the social and economic forces shaping artistic production.