That settles it!...I won't hunt with you again!" 1854

Curator: Daumier’s lithograph, “That settles it!...I won't hunt with you again!” presents a humorous scene of hunting companions in disarray. Immediately, I'm struck by the sharp contrast in their postures—one defiant, the other slouching and defeated. Editor: Yes, the body language speaks volumes. Consider the seated figure—his gaunt face and disheveled hair suggest a certain social critique. He embodies a kind of dejected defiance. Curator: Absolutely, and that leads me to think about how Daumier, known for his social commentary, often used caricatures to critique the bourgeoisie. Here, the contrast between the characters highlights class differences and hunting itself as a symbol. Editor: Symbolically, hunting scenes are loaded. It could be seen as a metaphor for social dominance, or a primal contest. The rejected hunter represents a disruption of that order. Curator: Daumier cleverly employs shadow and line to emphasize the emotional weight of the situation, doesn’t he? Editor: He does, and perhaps the real quarry here isn’t game, but self-importance. Curator: That’s a thought I’ll be turning over in my head for a while! Editor: Me too. There's always more than meets the eye in Daumier.