Versailles!... Trois semaines d'arrêt! 1871

Editor: This lithograph, "Versailles!... Trois semaines d'arrêt!" by Honoré Daumier, was made in 1871. It has this cynical feeling—like, something's being deliberately sabotaged. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This is more than just cynicism; it's a direct critique of power and its abuses. The image depicts figures identified as Versailles actively dismantling the railroad tracks between themselves and Paris. Daumier's work always has strong political roots: consider the historical context. We're talking about post-Franco-Prussian War France, still grappling with the deep social divisions that fueled the Paris Commune. Editor: Right, I remember reading about that. Versailles was where the government was holed up, right? Curator: Exactly. Daumier uses caricature to amplify the perceived antagonism between Versailles, representing conservative forces, and Paris, often associated with revolutionary ideals. Think of those lines as more than just railroad tracks: they're lifelines being severed, connections broken. How might contemporary viewers, witnessing such divisions in society, have interpreted Daumier's message? Editor: So it’s not just a broken railway but a broken society? I didn't catch all of that at first glance, but it gives a lot more depth to the artwork. Curator: Absolutely! And look at how he renders those figures – almost monstrous in their dedication to destruction. He is critiquing not only the political acts of the government in Versailles but the ideologies and social forces that enable them. Editor: I hadn't fully grasped all those layers initially. Thanks, that helped me see it in a new light. Curator: It is amazing how art can be rooted in a historical setting yet be relevant in modern society.