The first day of the year c. 19th century

Curator: This is Honoré Daumier's lithograph, "The First Day of the Year," which is housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s… well, it's not exactly flattering, is it? The caricatures feel exaggerated to the point of being unsettling. Curator: Indeed. Daumier often used his art to critique social customs and political events, particularly through satirical depictions of different cultures and classes. Editor: You can almost smell the sarcasm, can't you? The figures are almost grotesque, their interactions stilted and vaguely aggressive. Curator: What's interesting is how this reflects a broader European attitude toward other cultures during that era. It's a commentary on the exoticizing and often misinformed perspective. Editor: Right. It's a reminder that how we choose to represent others often says more about ourselves than them. Curator: Precisely. And that visual satire can serve as a powerful tool for social commentary, even if it makes us uncomfortable today.