"Hey, where're you going? The rabbit isn't that way!" 1864

Curator: This lithograph by Honoré Daumier is titled "Hey, where're you going? The rabbit isn't that way!". Editor: It’s funny, but a bit unsettling. The figures look frantic, almost grotesque. Curator: Daumier was a master of caricature; he used exaggeration to satirize society. Notice the hunter, weighed down by his gear, ignoring the frantic cries behind him. Editor: He seems obsessed, blinded by his goal. Is Daumier suggesting we’re all a bit like that, chasing something to the point of absurdity? Curator: Perhaps. Hunting can be a symbol for many things – ambition, desire, the pursuit of pleasure. Editor: The frantic assistant, for me, embodies the nagging voice of conscience—or perhaps common sense—ignored. Curator: It certainly speaks to our tendency to prioritize the hunt over good counsel. Editor: Right, well, I might need to pause and reflect on what I'm chasing today. Curator: A worthy reflection.