Three O'Clock in the Morning, He's Ready to Enjoy the Pleasures of the Hunt 1847

Editor: Here we see Honoré Daumier's lithograph, "Three O'Clock in the Morning, He's Ready to Enjoy the Pleasures of the Hunt." It's incredibly expressive, particularly the figure's exaggerated posture. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Daumier’s lithographs were mass produced for newspapers. He wasn't creating singular "art objects" but engaging in social commentary through readily available, reproducible images. Consider the labor involved in printing, the distribution networks, and the consumption of these images by the bourgeoisie he critiques. Editor: So the very means of production are part of the message? Curator: Precisely! The availability of prints allowed his criticism of bourgeois life to reach a wide audience. Editor: That gives me a lot to consider about the piece. Thank you. Curator: Indeed. It's a fascinating look at art, production, and social commentary.