The Consequences of a Horsemeat Dinner 1865

Editor: Here we have Honoré Daumier's lithograph, "The Consequences of a Horsemeat Dinner." The central figures, possibly a couple, seem quite disturbed. What can you tell me about the context in which Daumier created this piece? Curator: During the siege of Paris, horsemeat became a dietary staple. Daumier’s satire uses this social reality to comment on class and societal anxieties. Do you notice how he exaggerates the expressions of discomfort? Editor: Yes, it's quite striking! It feels like commentary on both culinary and social anxieties of the time. I hadn't considered the socio-political implications of food scarcity. Curator: Precisely. Daumier used everyday experiences to critique the political and social structures. It reminds us how art can reflect and shape public discourse.