"The thermometer of the engineer Chevalier was right... at 10 degrees the large rivers as well as the noses have cought a cold... just imagine that it might take three weeks for my nose to thaw!...," plate 5 from Paris L'hiver 1845

Editor: So, here we have Honoré Daumier's lithograph from 1845, a print titled "The thermometer of the engineer Chevalier was right... at 10 degrees the large rivers as well as the noses have cought a cold... just imagine that it might take three weeks for my nose to thaw!..." It depicts a group of men huddled together, seemingly observing a large thermometer. I find the scene rather amusing, but also poignant, almost a commentary on public obsession with the minutiae. What catches your eye when you look at it? Curator: Well, immediately I’m drawn to the satirical intent. Daumier wasn't just making a funny image; he was making a statement about Parisian society and its preoccupations. Consider the context: this was during a period of rapid industrialization and scientific advancement. There was a burgeoning middle class that, on the one hand, was benefiting from this progress, and on the other, felt alienated and somewhat powerless. The Engineer Chevalier, the thermometer – it's all playing into that culture of supposed scientific understanding, yet the average person has little real control. The text highlights this disparity, drawing focus to the public discourse around seemingly scientific advancements that has little effect on daily life. Editor: So it's a critique of the way science and technology were being consumed and understood by the public? Curator: Precisely! And how that understanding was shaped by societal trends. Daumier was constantly engaging with the political climate, and his work appeared regularly in publications like *Le Charivari.* Think about who *Le Charivari* was aimed at – a relatively well-educated, middle-class audience. Daumier is appealing to their sensibilities, perhaps subtly poking fun at their anxieties and pretensions, creating this dialogue with, and criticism of, his own society. Editor: It's fascinating how much social commentary is packed into such a simple scene. I’d never considered the broader societal implications before, but the humor is definitely biting now. Curator: Daumier really compels us to consider the context in which images are made and consumed. It's never just about the artwork; it's about its function within a broader cultural landscape. Editor: Thanks, I now recognize there's always a bigger story influencing a piece.