The German philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach coined the expression “man is what he eats” in his 1843 essay “Principles of the Philosophy of the Future.” The statement held particular resonance in France. After the Prussian siege of Paris in 1870, the city faced a dire food crisis. Bread and meat were rationed in meager quantities, forcing locals to turn to rats and dogs as well as unconventional sources from the zoo—elephants, giraffes, antelopes. Though the crisis subsided, its impact lingered, transforming the nation’s relationship with food. This shift was reflected in the art of Gustave Courbet, Camille Pissarro, Paul Gauguin, and Claude Monet, who made subjects of French fields, farmers, urban markets, and chefs preparing grand banquets. Through 50 of their paintings, this exhibition explores gastronomy and national identity in France. —Elena Clavarino