"Oh! the wretch...he died there just so I couldn't have him!" 1858

Editor: This print by Honoré Daumier, "Oh! the wretch...he died there just so I couldn't have him!", feels like such a darkly funny commentary. The hunter's frustration practically leaps off the page! What do you see in this piece? Curator: For me, this image vibrates with Daumier’s signature wit and social critique. The hunter's exaggerated reaction to the dead rabbit speaks volumes about human nature, doesn’t it? He looks almost betrayed by the rabbit's defiance. Editor: That's a great point, his emotions do feel rather exaggerated. Curator: It's as though the rabbit has the last laugh, subverting the hunter’s expectations. This print really captures the absurdity of the hunt, and perhaps, life itself. It reminds us that even in supposed victory, there can be a tinge of defeat. Editor: It makes you wonder who is really hunting whom! Thanks, that was insightful.