A Philosopher: "Man should never be alone...and he never has better company than a glass of wine!" 1864

Curator: Honoré Daumier, born in 1808, sketched this lithograph titled "A Philosopher: 'Man should never be alone...and he never has better company than a glass of wine!'" Satires like this were a common theme in his work. Editor: Ah, I love it! It feels…claustrophobic. The smoky atmosphere, the tight framing. Everyone looks so serious, as if pondering existence itself over a tiny glass of wine! Curator: Exactly. Daumier often used caricature to critique the bourgeoisie. This image could be seen as a commentary on the vapid intellectualism of the time, substituting genuine connection with alcohol-fueled debate. Editor: It's kind of sad, though. That yearning for connection is so palpable, even if it's misguided. Makes you wonder what those conversations were *really* about. Curator: Indeed. This piece reminds us of the societal pressures and shifting values of 19th-century France. Editor: Ultimately, it is about the human condition in a bar.