"All right gentlemen...that's enough...it's good to argue, but let's not hit each other..." 1844

Editor: This is "All right gentlemen...that's enough...it's good to argue, but let's not hit each other..." by Honoré Daumier. It looks like a lithograph. The chaotic energy makes me think of political cartoons. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Daumier’s work often critiqued bourgeois society, and this image embodies that perfectly. Consider the title alongside the image; the irony is palpable. This scene, supposedly about organizing a "Universal Peace Society," devolves into physical altercation. Editor: So, the humor is rooted in the hypocrisy of the so-called philanthropists? Curator: Exactly. Daumier uses satire to expose the disconnect between their lofty ideals and base behavior. The "peace society" becomes a site of conflict, highlighting the performative nature of their philanthropy. Editor: That really reframes how I see this print! Curator: It invites us to question power structures and the performative nature of social progress.