Je crois que j'ai entendu chanter un hibou... 1847

This is Honoré Daumier’s lithograph, Je crois que j'ai entendu chanter un hibou... Daumier was a master of social observation, and here, he captures a nocturnal scene with a touch of dark humor. The man in his nightshirt, peering anxiously through the curtains, disturbs the domestic quiet, while his partner slumbers soundly in the bed. It's a scene that is full of gendered expectations. Is he the protector, vigilant against unseen threats? Or is Daumier subtly mocking the anxieties of the bourgeois male? There's a quiet tension in the contrast between the man's wide-eyed alertness and the woman's peaceful rest. The lithographic technique enhances this moodiness, with deep shadows heightening the sense of unease. It evokes an emotional response—a mix of amusement, empathy, and perhaps a touch of recognition. Daumier invites us to reflect on our own vulnerabilities and fears.