Ohé! ... Combien votre lievre? ... c. 19th century

Curator: This lithograph is by Honoré Daumier, dating from the 19th century. Its title, "Ohé! ... Combien votre lièvre? ..." roughly translates to "Hey! How much for your hare?" Editor: My first impression is amusement; the awkward stance of the hunter, and the contrast between his apparent seriousness and the transaction happening on the hilltop, give it a humorous feel. The scene reads like a satire. Curator: Absolutely. Daumier was known for his social critiques, and this print seems to target the absurdity of the hunting rituals among the bourgeois class. Hunting became this leisure activity but he's showcasing some of the oddities. The text underscores the dynamic, highlighting the almost transactional nature of the sport, where success feels manufactured. Editor: The contrast in size between the foreground figure and the seller also adds to the comic effect. One seems caught up in the hunt's “noble” tradition, gun and hunting dog, while the distant figure has clearly already bagged the game; and their exchange is purely financial. It diminishes the sport, and the implied social hierarchy of the foreground character comes across ridiculous in contrast. The seller is posed heroically, as the bringer of success. Curator: Consider how pervasive hunting imagery was, often connected with aristocratic power and land ownership. By presenting this exchange so cynically, Daumier questions those long-held associations and brings the reality of the countryside and changing power structures of the era to the forefront. The urban viewer is encouraged to reflect on this rural scene as entertainment rather than a privilege or entitlement. Editor: I agree. The seller, in his crude dress and almost saintly halo, feels symbolic, perhaps even representing the shift of power or even a commentary on rapidly increasing monetization of labor that became an inevitable process as an effect of the industrial revolution. Curator: I would also suggest it is Daumier bringing social commentary into the relatively “safe” themes, of what he knew his collectors and viewers were after at the time. A critique, served in a manner digestible to a buying audience. Editor: It’s fascinating to see how Daumier embeds these layers of commentary within such a simple genre scene. This seemingly straightforward image carries a wealth of social and political implications. Curator: A snapshot into 19th-century France and hunting culture, delivered with a wry sense of humor and layered social critique.