Trois heures du matin... 1847

Editor: So, this is Honoré Daumier's "Trois heures du matin..." or "Three in the Morning...", a lithograph from 1847. It's pretty striking! The guy looks like he’s having… not a good morning? What’s your take on this scene? Curator: Ah, Daumier. He had a knack for capturing the bourgeoisie at their most, shall we say, *human.* This image is part of his series "Les Bons Bourgeois" and that title is deeply ironic. I see a man, jolted awake far too early, presumably to go hunting judging by the text underneath the image, yet there is so much implied discontent in this exaggerated posture, wouldn’t you agree? It reminds me a bit of Hogarth's satirical prints. Editor: I see what you mean! I was focused on how funny he looks, but you're right, the way he's positioned, almost straining, hints at something more… negative? Is he angry or just really tired? Curator: Exactly! Is it the sheer dread of leaving his comfortable bed, the thought of tracking through fields and forests? What sort of inner battle is taking place here? His world has its absurdities; Daumier asks us to notice them, and perhaps even find ourselves within the portrayal. Editor: So, the humor's almost a vehicle for something deeper? Curator: Precisely! His Romanticist tendencies play with caricature, pushing boundaries while provoking thoughtful questioning and genuine observation. What does hunting MEAN for him? For his place in society? Editor: That makes me see it completely differently! I went straight to the surface, but there’s so much going on beneath that. Thanks for untangling this little tableau for me! Curator: It’s my pleasure! Seeing art is an ongoing conversation, so to keep discussing, observing and letting those works inspire, is what matters.