An English Philanthropist Exercising His Sacred Duty. - As a Member of the Society to Protect Animals, He Prevents Injury to Any Quadruped and Has No Scruples against Beating Up a Simple Biped. 1844

Curator: This satirical lithograph, by Honoré Daumier, is called "An English Philanthropist Exercising His Sacred Duty." What a mouthful! Editor: Yes, quite! My initial impression is one of chaotic energy, a street brawl captured in frantic lines. You can almost hear the commotion. Curator: Daumier's commentary on societal hypocrisy is biting. He's pointing to the absurdity of prioritizing animals over fellow humans. Consider the materiality itself—cheap lithographic stone, mass-produced for newspapers—it's a tool for immediate, accessible social critique. Editor: And yet, the artist's hand is so evident. Look at the way he renders the folds in the philanthropist's coat; there’s a real drama to it. I find that tension compelling, don't you? Curator: It certainly adds another layer to the work, doesn’t it? Makes you question your own values, I think. Editor: Precisely! A lasting testament to Daumier's brilliance.