Universal Peace Having Been Decreed... 1849

Editor: This lithograph is by Honoré Daumier, called "Universal Peace Having Been Decreed…". It depicts three figures; two appear to be generals being put to work after peace is declared. The mood is satirical. What is Daumier saying about power and peace here? Curator: Daumier, a master of social commentary, uses caricature to critique the power structures of his time. Notice how the generals are forced into labor, implying a shift in their social roles after the "decree" of peace. Who benefits, and whose power is diminished? Editor: So, it’s a commentary on the disruption of the existing order? Curator: Precisely. The print highlights the uneasy transition from war to peace, and the potential displacement, or perhaps reassignment, of those who profited from conflict. Editor: I see. It really makes you think about the societal impact of peace beyond the battlefield.