The Council's Dress Rehersal 1869

Editor: So, this is Honoré Daumier's "The Council's Dress Rehearsal." It’s a print, probably from the 1860s, and I'm immediately struck by the way everyone's gazing upwards. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, Daumier! He always tickles my funny bone while making me think. The exaggerated expressions, the almost grotesque figures... Notice how they strain their necks toward that illuminated "Free Thought"? It's satire, pure and simple. He’s poking fun at those who blindly follow, don't you think? Editor: Absolutely! I didn't initially see the satire so overtly, but now it seems impossible to miss. Curator: It’s wonderful how art can reveal new layers each time we engage with it. Editor: Definitely. This piece feels even more relevant now.