The Three Connoisseurs after 1869

Honoré Daumier's drawing, "The Three Connoisseurs", captures a scene within what we can assume is a Parisian art gallery of the mid-19th century. Daumier was a master of social observation, and here he turns his critical eye toward the art world itself, in the wake of the French Revolution. Through the visual codes of dress and posture, Daumier dissects the act of art appreciation. The figures, presumably bourgeois gentlemen, are depicted with a subtle critique, suggesting their engagement with art is perhaps more about social posturing than genuine aesthetic understanding. This was a period when the newly established museums and galleries were becoming important sites for the formation of public taste and national identity. To understand Daumier's commentary fully, we might delve into periodicals and exhibition reviews of the time, uncovering the debates about art's role in shaping French society. By examining these historical sources, we appreciate how "The Three Connoisseurs" invites us to reflect on art's social function and its power to challenge the status quo.