Parisians already taking their precautions to avoid being roasted by the comet, plate 410 from Actualités 1857

Editor: Here we have Honoré Daumier's 1857 lithograph, "Parisians already taking their precautions to avoid being roasted by the comet." The scene is pretty striking – a group of Parisians wading through water, up to their chests in some cases! They all have such grim, determined expressions. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Well, isn't it delicious? Daumier always had a knack for capturing the absurd in everyday life. Here, you see that wonderfully biting social commentary disguised as humor. The exaggerated expressions, the ridiculous hats bobbing in the water, that panicked need to…immerse oneself against celestial fire? It’s a portrait of societal anxieties taken to a comical extreme. You know, back then, comets were seen as harbingers of doom. A comet craze swept through Paris and Daumier capitalized on this through his artwork. I love the city reflected in the background. What kind of emotional impact does that add, in your mind? Editor: It definitely heightens the satire. They’re in the water, ostensibly to survive, but still so close to the very society they’re trying to escape. And the sheer desperation is hilarious. Are there other levels to that commentary? Curator: Oh, undoubtedly. Daumier was always skewering the bourgeoisie, wasn’t he? There’s the almost bovine determination in their faces, an unflattering mirror held up to the fashionable, panicking Parisian. It's funny how fear can make us all look a bit… well, silly. It makes me think about how we respond to threats, real or perceived, and the sometimes irrational actions we take. It sort of makes you wonder – are we much different today? Editor: Definitely something to think about. I really appreciate how Daumier could take such a specific moment in history and make it so relatable even now. Curator: Yes, that's what I love about Daumier, that feeling that you are also going through something with him and the image. He really had a feel for the human condition, didn't he?