Holiday in the Country. “- Life in the country really isn't all that entertaining, as they all say. - And to think that spring has only just begun,” plate 14 from Ces Bons Parisiens 1858

Editor: So, this lithograph is by Honoré Daumier, from 1858. It's called "Holiday in the Country," part of a series called *Ces Bons Parisiens*. It shows a couple looking distinctly unhappy. I find the mood both funny and sad, and I'm curious to know what you see in this piece. Curator: Indeed. Look at how Daumier renders their ennui through posture. He captures the feeling of urban dwellers transplanted to a rural setting. They are surrounded by nature, represented in the cityscape behind them, yet psychologically disconnected. Notice how their drooping figures echo the drooping flowers in the vase. What emotional weight does this repetition carry for you? Editor: I guess it highlights the overall feeling of weariness. Like, even the flowers are bored! It's as if they expected the countryside to be some kind of instant cure for...city life? Curator: Precisely! The imagery invites us to reflect on the power of expectation and its potential for disillusionment. What symbols can you identify in the characters’ clothing that speak to the context of their lives in Paris? Editor: Well, the man is dressed quite formally, even for the country, with his patterned trousers. And the woman has a rather elaborate bonnet. These details contrast so sharply with the simplicity of nature behind them. Curator: The sharp lines of their clothing highlight how different the artificial styles of the city contrast with nature. Their formal attire acts almost as a visual barrier between them and the peace they thought they’d find. This is how Daumier reveals a deeper truth, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: I agree. I never would have noticed all of that on my own. Thanks, that was enlightening! Curator: My pleasure. Thinking about art this way keeps these images alive.