Toeriste past hoed in een Parijse winkel 1844

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, “Tourist Trying on a Hat in a Parisian Shop,” sometime in the mid-19th century. It is currently located in the Rijksmuseum. Daumier was known for his satirical depictions of French society, often targeting the bourgeoisie. Here, we see a caricatured portrayal of tourists in Paris. The image plays on stereotypes of class and cultural identity. The foreign couple, likely from the countryside, are wide-eyed and out of place in the sophisticated Parisian milieu. The woman's elaborate bonnet contrasts sharply with the simpler hats displayed, suggesting a clash between rural and urban fashion sensibilities. Daumier seems to be commenting on the performance of identity and the way clothing can signify social status. The husband’s stern demeanor seems to question the high price. The humor in this image speaks to enduring tensions between tradition and modernity, the local and the global, revealing the complex dynamics of cultural exchange and social hierarchy.