Quite embarrassing not to remember where one has hidden the wolf traps, plate 44 from Pastorales 1846

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, plate 44 from "Pastorales," in 19th-century France. It depicts a landowner in disarray, having forgotten the location of his wolf traps. Daumier's work often served as social commentary, and this image is no exception. It critiques the aristocratic class, portraying them as incompetent and out of touch with the realities of rural life. The "Pastorales" series, in particular, uses pastoral settings to satirize contemporary society. The image plays with the visual codes of landscape art, subverting the idealized vision of rural life popularized by institutions like the French Academy. Daumier's prints were widely circulated in newspapers like "Le Charivari," offering a readily accessible form of political and social critique. To understand this work fully, one might consult archives of 19th-century French periodicals. The image’s enduring relevance lies in its commentary on social class, reflecting the political turbulence of its time.