Practical Health c. 19th century

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier's "Practical Health." It’s a stark image of Death enjoying a drink with a well-dressed figure. The mood is unsettling, cynical, but also darkly funny. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see Daumier using potent, time-tested symbols. Death, of course, but note how he peruses what appears to be a list of recently deceased, like a menu. The grim reaper is not some abstract concept but a bureaucrat, highlighting society's complicity with mortality for profit. Editor: So, it's less about fearing death and more about critiquing exploitation? Curator: Precisely. The symbolism suggests a commentary on how societal structures—even those seemingly promoting health—can contribute to premature death, lining the pockets of others. Do you notice the name above them in the establishment? Editor: "Rendez-vous des bons vivants", the place of the good livers! That adds another layer, doesn't it? It's ironic! I learned more about the narrative hidden in images than I expected. Curator: Indeed. Symbols, when read carefully, unlock profound truths about our world.