Allant gouter ce qu'on est convenu d'appeler... 1855

Here is your audio guide script: Honoré Daumier created this lithograph depicting a winter scene, playing with shades and textures achieved through nuanced lines and contrasts. The composition emphasizes the group of figures set against a stark winter landscape, their faces etched with a sense of grim determination. The somber palette accentuates the harshness of the winter season. Daumier challenges the romantic idealization of nature, presenting instead a raw, unvarnished view of the hunting experience. The contrast between the delicate lines forming the barren trees and the more defined, almost caricatured faces of the hunters reveals a critical perspective on the pastime itself. This piece destabilizes conventional notions of leisure and social class. The relentless, bleak setting underscores a deeper commentary on human interaction with nature and the structures of society, leaving us to question the values and meanings we assign to our pursuits.