Recevant la férule c. 19th century

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier’s 19th-century lithograph, “Recevant la férule," or "Receiving the Scepter." There's a clear satirical tone and the composition feels unbalanced, like a freeze-frame just before a painful smack. What's your read on Daumier's intention here? Curator: Oh, Daumier! Always tickling the ribs of the establishment with a charcoal feather! The print's visual imbalance echoes the societal power dynamics he so loved to critique. What do you notice about the man’s headgear? Anything jump out? Editor: It seems like a dunce cap of sorts, emblazoned with "L'Univers Religieux," but with rabbit ears sticking out...made of baguettes, maybe? Curator: Baguettes indeed! Daumier loved a good visual pun, and in 19th-century France, bread, religion, and politics were often deeply intertwined. The "ferule"—the instrument of correction—is delivered with almost divine light. Think about the target of his satire here – is it purely religious, or something broader? Editor: Perhaps the way religious doctrine is imposed? The stark light on the paddle emphasizes the performative aspect of punishment, maybe even critiquing those who blindly receive and administer it. It's a system. Curator: Exactly! Daumier wasn't afraid to stir the pot, to make us question the unquestionable. Editor: So, beyond a funny jab, this image really calls into question how systems of power and belief affect everyday folks. I wouldn’t have picked up on all that! Curator: It’s those layered visual puns, those carb-loaded cultural cues, that make Daumier a master of sly, pointed commentary, don’t you think? Art history is such fun!