Utilisant les loisirs... 1869

This lithograph by Honoré Daumier depicts a knife sharpener in period garb, diligently working at his grindstone while, in the background, men study electoral announcements. The symbolism here is ripe with potential Freudian interpretations. The action of sharpening suggests preparation and anticipation. The wheel—a recurrent motif in art history—represents cyclical returns. It evokes the relentless, often cruel, turning of fortune's wheel, reminiscent of images of Fortuna from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance. The turning wheel and the sharpener’s meticulous preparation evoke anxieties about what is to come. In contrast, the oblivious men in the background suggest a collective naivety, or perhaps a denial of the imminent political cut. This is not simply about an election; it speaks to the eternal human drama, the recurring cycles of hope and disillusionment, sharpened expectations, and the ever-turning wheel of fate. The image is a powerful emblem of the psychological undercurrents driving collective behavior.