A qui le tour? 1870

This lithograph, by Honoré Daumier, captures a pivotal moment in French history through the sharp eye of political satire. Dominating the scene is a hunter who stands triumphantly over the relics of past regimes. The dates strewn at his feet—1815, 1830, 1848—mark the fall of previous monarchies, each a failed attempt to restore the old order. The hunter, brandishing a rifle with a bird skewered at its end, embodies the relentless march of revolution. This image echoes ancient hunting rituals, where the slain animal represents the vanquished foe. Here, the dead bird becomes a potent symbol of dethroned power. Consider, also, how Daumier uses the motif of the museum, a place where the past is preserved and displayed. Here, the "Musée des Souverains" becomes a stage for the cyclical drama of power, a reminder that even the mightiest empires are destined to become artifacts of history. The psychological weight of this image is palpable, stirring collective memories and subconscious fears of instability and change.