Ex-members of the Ex-society of the Ex-10 December 1850

Curator: This lithograph, "Ex-members of the Ex-society of the Ex-10 December," is by Honoré Daumier. It captures two men in what appears to be a state of dejection. What do you make of their expressions? Editor: Oh, it's heavy, isn't it? The slumped shoulders, the faraway look in their eyes… feels like a Tuesday after the world has ended. Like the last call at a pub where hope went to die. Curator: It speaks to political disillusionment, doesn't it? The "Ex-society" refers to a group associated with Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte. Daumier often critiqued political corruption and the broken promises of power. Editor: So, they’re not just hungover; they’re hungover on broken dreams! It’s the contrast between the beer they’re drinking now, and the “good wine” they were once promised—it is kind of heartbreaking in a darkly humorous way. Curator: Precisely. Daumier uses the everyday scene to comment on broader socio-political realities and the human cost of political maneuvering. Editor: And the etching style almost amplifies the mood. It adds this sense of decay and uncertainty, like things are crumbling around them. Curator: It is a stark reminder of the consequences of political betrayal and the disappointment felt by those who once held faith. Editor: It really does make you think about the cyclical nature of hope and disillusionment.