Un animal rempli de modestie... c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, "Un animal rempli de modestie…", sometime in the mid-19th century. The drawing presents a darkly humorous scene dominated by the rough textures of its medium and the stark contrast of light and shadow. Daumier uses a semiotic language of caricatured forms to critique societal norms. Note how the butcher, rendered with exaggerated features, pulls a reluctant horse towards an unseen fate. The horse's resistance is palpable through its strained posture and averted gaze. The backdrop is an arrangement of hanging cooking pots. They serve as a mordant reminder of the horse's grim destiny. Daumier uses a visual language of satire, playing with societal roles. He suggests that the structures that govern our relationships with animals are based on exploitation. The print challenges us to consider the power dynamics between humans and animals. It also questions the ethics of consumption.