"That wretched hare must be tired of running like that alongside the coach..." 1859

Curator: This is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, and its title is a mouthful: "That wretched hare must be tired of running like that alongside the coach..." Editor: Tired is right. The hare, and us too perhaps, just looking at those grim faces leering from the carriage. They seem to embody a very specific, heartless kind of... enjoyment? Curator: Absolutely. Notice how Daumier uses these almost grotesque caricatures to comment on the leisure class, turning what should be a scene of sport into something almost predatory. Editor: Yes, the way he renders their expressions is fascinating. They all seem consumed by a shared desire, a unified intention directed at this one small creature. It's a stark visual metaphor, really. Curator: It’s a reminder that even supposedly harmless pastimes can reveal darker aspects of human nature and social inequality. Daumier’s work really makes you think. Editor: Indeed. He captures not just a scene, but a feeling – a certain unease. It’s a potent little image.