Allons bon!... il parait... chasse réservée 1864

Honoré Daumier created this satirical lithograph titled "Allons bon!... il parait... chasse réservée" during a time of significant social and political change in France. Daumier, known for his critical eye, often used his art to comment on the bourgeoisie. Here, he captures a scene of class conflict. We see a bourgeois hunter, identifiable by his attire, fleeing in apparent panic, while another figure chases after him, presumably a gamekeeper enforcing the hunting rights of the aristocracy or wealthy landowners. The humor lies in the reversal of power; the hunter, typically the one in control, is now the hunted. Daumier highlights the tensions surrounding land ownership and privilege. This print reflects broader societal issues regarding access to resources and the enforcement of class boundaries. The exaggerated expressions and dynamic composition amplify the emotional impact, inviting us to reflect on the absurdities and injustices of social hierarchy.