Hier le fusil a aiguille, eux demain ... c. 19th century

Honore Daumier created this lithograph, a biting commentary on the medical profession, during a time of significant social and political change in France. Here, physicians are depicted in tall, pointed hats reminiscent of dunce caps. The image evokes the Commedia dell'arte, specifically the figure of ‘Il Dottore’, a pompous, ineffectual academic. These figures are entering the 'Congrès Universel des Medecius', and embody the perceived arrogance and detachment of medical professionals from the realities of everyday life. Note the phrase underneath the drawing: ‘Yesterday the needle gun, them tomorrow: will we gain by the change?’. This harkens back to the use of satire in earlier prints, such as those by Hogarth, where professions were critiqued through visual ridicule. It’s a recurrent motif: the learned fool, a figure we see echoed through history, reminding us that progress and knowledge can sometimes mask deeper human failings. The grotesque rendering of faces hints at the psychological anxieties surrounding trust and authority. Such fear can be a potent force, uniting viewers in a shared sense of skepticism. Through this symbolic language, Daumier captures a timeless tension between authority and public trust, echoing across centuries.