“A protest on New Year's Day! What luck! ...........,” plate 42 from Croquis Parisiens 1857

Editor: This lithograph, titled "A protest on New Year's Day! What luck!," by Honoré Daumier, was created in 1857. I’m struck by the sharp, almost biting characterizations of the figures. What can you tell me about this print in the broader context of Parisian society at the time? Curator: Daumier's work consistently provides a sharp social critique. Think about what New Year's Day might have represented to different social classes in 19th-century Paris. It's likely about societal inequities, no? Here, we see what appears to be someone struggling, interrupted, perhaps by a bill collector or landlord representative. Editor: So, the "protest" isn’t necessarily a political demonstration, but rather a personal objection to their circumstances? Curator: Exactly. The humor, or perhaps more accurately, the satire, lies in the disruption of a celebratory day by the harsh realities of poverty. Daumier was deeply engaged in the political and social issues of his time. Consider how his images offered commentary on class struggle, political corruption, and the lives of ordinary people. The term “romanticism” in its description is almost ironic given this starkly realistic setting, but maybe signals the deeply personal, almost sentimental investment Daumier had for his subjects' plight. Editor: It's like a frozen moment of everyday struggle, elevated through art. I suppose I'm curious to know whether there was significant audience engagement for the art? Curator: Absolutely. Daumier’s prints, disseminated through newspapers and journals, reached a broad audience and played a significant role in shaping public opinion and sparking discussion about societal issues. How effective do you think this piece might have been in prompting discussion about these struggles? Editor: Thinking about the time, I think it had an important role to play to generate necessary commentary. Thank you. It’s powerful to consider how art can be both a reflection of its time and a catalyst for change. Curator: And also to reconsider what “protest” truly entails in everyday existence. Thanks!