"Well, then, Mr. Caboulot, you're not coming?...It's time to go home..." 1859

Editor: This lithograph by Honoré Daumier, titled "Well, then, Mr. Caboulot, you're not coming?...It's time to go home...", presents a humorous hunting scene. What symbolic meanings do you see embedded in the imagery? Curator: The hunter, Mr. Caboulot, leaning against the tree, becomes a symbol of stubbornness, perhaps even delusion. Consider how trees themselves represent rootedness, tradition, and are often associated with knowledge, even wisdom. The other man moving away signifies a rejection of that fixed position. Editor: So, the tree represents a kind of stagnation? Curator: Potentially! Daumier uses the contrasting figures to highlight differing ideologies or approaches to life, with cultural memory weighing against adaptability. What do you take away? Editor: I see how Daumier used familiar symbols to make his social commentary much more impactful.