Philantrope anglais dans l'exercice ... c. 19th century

Editor: So, this is Honoré Daumier's "Philantrope anglais dans l'exercice..." – quite a title, right? From around the 19th century, it's a lithograph. My first thought? It’s a chaotic snapshot. All the lines seem to push in different directions! I'm intrigued… What do you make of it? Curator: Chaos is a great word. Daumier was the master of the sly jab, wasn't he? For me, it’s the sheer absurdity. You’ve got this puffed-up English philanthropist, right? So concerned with animal welfare that he's prepared to, let's say, re-arrange the spine of the poor cart driver to prove his point. Have you read the little snippet underneath? Editor: Something about protecting quadrupeds by breaking the back of bipeds? Curator: Exactly! Daumier has a genius for lampooning the hypocrisy of the bourgeois class. The fellow in his zeal looks slightly unhinged doesn't he? One almost expects the horse to roll its eyes! It is also a snapshot as you noticed, there's a definite emphasis on immediacy, using energetic line work to convey motion and emotional intensity. It invites the viewer to see a deeper social commentary, do you feel that? Editor: Definitely! I can almost hear the shouting and the horses hooves on the cobblestones. And the text kind of seals the deal: you're meant to question this guy’s 'generosity.' Do you think that it’s humour like this is timeless? Curator: Oh, without a doubt. Sadly, there’s always a target for a good satire isn’t there? We recognize ourselves and our world and it speaks directly to us, which is what I admire most about it. Thanks for the chat! Editor: Absolutely, that really clarified the context and what makes this print so sharp.