“- Incredible... but we now have to give the exact weight! - and we can no longer sell bones for meat - and wine really has to be wine! - all together now: It's DISGUSTING!,” plate 4 from Croquis Parisiens 1856

This lithograph by Honoré Daumier, from his series “Croquis Parisiens,” presents us with three figures embodying discontent. Their crossed arms, pursed lips, and furrowed brows are universal signs of disapproval, yet Daumier roots them in the specifics of 19th-century Parisian life. Consider the gesture of crossed arms. We see it echoed in ancient Egyptian depictions of pharaohs, signaling power and authority, yet here, it speaks of resistance and defiance. The motif travels through time, shifting its meaning according to context. Why this enduring power? Perhaps because it taps into a primal assertion of self, a subconscious defense against perceived threats. Just as the Laocoön's writhing struggle embodies human suffering, these figures’ postures encapsulate a collective frustration. This frustration is cyclical. Daumier captures a moment, but the merchants' feelings and the government regulation causing them will resurface in endless variations, each bearing the weight of its own time.