A Hunting Story 1864

Editor: This is "A Hunting Story," a lithograph by Honoré Daumier. I find the exaggerated expressions on their faces really funny, like they're caught in a tall tale. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Daumier was a master of social satire. This print likely comments on the bourgeoisie and their leisure activities. It’s printed in *Le Charivari*, a journal known for its caricatures. It also pokes fun at hunters' tendency to exaggerate their feats. Notice the viewer is included as a 'listener', becoming complicit in the narrative. What do you think that accomplishes? Editor: I guess it implicates us in the humor, making us question the hunter's story too. It's interesting to consider how Daumier used the public forum of print to comment on social behaviors. Curator: Precisely! Daumier used the medium of the popular press to engage in social commentary. It reveals how art and social critique can intersect in public life.