The Influence of the Peace Congress. “Oh you scoundrels, you are fighting again... you still don't know that man should live in peace and be master of himself,” plate 8 from Actualités 1849

Curator: Let’s consider this print by Honoré Daumier, titled “The Influence of the Peace Congress. ‘Oh you scoundrels, you are fighting again… you still don't know that man should live in peace and be master of himself,’” made in 1849. It’s a lithograph on paper. Editor: My initial impression is one of chaotic energy. The figures are rendered with frantic, almost violent, lines. The composition seems unstable, about to collapse. Curator: Indeed, the chaotic composition reflects Daumier’s social critique. The print satirizes the ineffectiveness of peace congresses during a time of intense political upheaval in France and Europe. Editor: I see the dark, densely hatched lines emphasize the figures' agitation, creating a sense of oppressive disorder. There's very little visual breathing room; even the background is active. Curator: Absolutely. The "peace congress" is represented as a father figure failing to control his unruly children—a biting commentary on the inability of political bodies to enforce peace and order. The man looms above, yet he seems powerless. Daumier frequently critiqued bourgeois society, especially the widening gap between revolutionary ideals and harsh realities. Editor: There’s something striking about the limited tonal range too. The absence of stark contrast contributes to the overall feeling of claustrophobia. It lacks visual hierarchy and clear resolution, emphasizing his feelings of anxiety, perhaps. Curator: This formal constraint also speaks to its medium. Daumier used lithography to widely disseminate his views. This wasn't fine art intended for galleries. This was agitprop! The title's phrase, dripping with sarcasm, underscores the work's broader message about the failure of political ideals to quell violence and the persistent naiveté about innate power imbalances. Editor: Ultimately, Daumier demonstrates how to leverage formal elements, in combination with social critique, to deliver a very powerful statement. Curator: A statement that remains tragically relevant today.