Catholic Baptismal Society Organized for the Health of Parisian Drinkers 1843

Editor: This print, "Catholic Baptismal Society Organized for the Health of Parisian Drinkers," by Honoré Daumier, looks like a satirical take. The barrels and men in suits suggest some commentary on social or religious rituals related to alcohol. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It makes me chuckle, actually. Daumier, bless his cynical heart, was a master of skewering the bourgeoisie. It looks like he's using the imagery of baptism, normally so pure, to comment on—and condemn—the hypocritical, sanctimonious attitude of certain religious figures toward the working class and their drinking habits. Do you think that’s a fair reading? Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn’t considered the hypocrisy angle so directly. It makes the image even more cutting. Curator: Exactly. The juxtaposition of the sacred and the profane... It’s classic Daumier. Editor: I'll definitely look at Daumier's work differently now!