"How can they find it amusing to rest..." 1850

Editor: This is "How can they find it amusing to rest..." by Honoré Daumier. It gives off a rather melancholic vibe to me, despite the title's suggestion of amusement. What are your thoughts? Curator: It's interesting you pick up on that melancholy. Daumier often used humor to mask deeper social critiques. The contrast between the man’s obvious boredom and the supposed pleasure of the fishermen becomes a subtle jab at societal expectations of leisure, don’t you think? Editor: That’s a great point. It's like he's saying, "Is this really what we consider fun?" It definitely gives it a new layer. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It’s these little ironies that make Daumier so wonderfully cutting, and surprisingly relevant even today.