The Displeasure of a Sculpture Placed in the Middle of an Exhibition of Paintings, plate 5 from Salon De 1857 1857

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph titled "The Displeasure of a Sculpture Placed in the Middle of an Exhibition of Paintings" as a plate from "Salon De 1857." It captures the social dynamics and artistic hierarchies of 19th-century France. Daumier critiques the Parisian art world and the institutions that governed it. We see the sculpture literally and figuratively elevated above paintings and the audience. The sculpture’s exaggerated expression and pose mocks the grandiosity often associated with academic art. Meanwhile, the reactions of the viewers below, from boredom to bewilderment, underscore the disconnect between the art establishment and the public. This critique aligns with Daumier’s broader commentary on the social structures of his time. He often used his art to challenge the status quo. To understand Daumier’s work fully, we can look at the Salon system, the rise of Realism, and the changing role of art in French society during the 1850s. His lithographs, published in popular newspapers, are invaluable resources for understanding this cultural history.