Je voudrais bien savoir quel est ... c. 19th century

This lithograph by Honoré Daumier presents us with a scene where the human form is placed under satirical scrutiny. A man sits, his body seemingly deflated, observing two others—one emaciated, the other corpulent—in a composition that evokes both amusement and unease. Consider the ages-old motif of contrasting body types, a visual language stretching back to classical allegories of vice and virtue. Here, Daumier subverts these ideals; he strips his figures of any heroic pretense, presenting them instead as objects of social commentary. It is akin to the medieval memento mori, reminding us of our earthly transience. The artist suggests a deeper cultural anxiety. The title, roughly translating to "I'd like to know who the joker is who first said that man was the king of creation," indicates a critical eye, a questioning of humanity's self-proclaimed dominion. This is not mere caricature; it's a reflection on the human condition.