Scholars Overcome with Joy Contemplating the First Little Crocodile Born in France, Allowing Them to Hope to Succeed in Acclimatizing These Animals in the Seine 1858

Curator: Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, now held at the Harvard Art Museums. Its lengthy title translates to "Scholars Overcome with Joy Contemplating the First Little Crocodile Born in France, Allowing Them to Hope to Succeed in Acclimatizing These Animals in the Seine." Editor: Oh, the hubris! It’s all so dramatic, as if a baby crocodile equals national pride. The cross-hatching feels feverish, like the scholars' anticipation is about to boil over. Curator: Indeed, Daumier’s work often satirized the social and political absurdities of his time. Here, we see a critique of scientific ambition intertwined with colonial fantasies of dominating nature. Editor: I can practically hear the tiny crocodile sighing, "Oh, France," as it dreams of warmer climes. It’s a funny, sad little scene of misguided priorities. Curator: It prompts us to consider the ethical dimensions of acclimatization projects and the social hierarchies that underpin such endeavors. Editor: Right, and reminds me that sometimes the silliest-seeming images carry the weightiest questions. Curator: Precisely, a perfect blend of humor and social commentary.