The Lesson of the Professor, plate five from Les Comédiens de Société 1858

This print, "The Lesson of the Professor," was made by Honoré Daumier in the 19th century, using lithography. Daumier was a master of this technique, which involves drawing on a stone with a greasy crayon, then using ink to transfer the image to paper. Lithography was a relatively new technology at the time, allowing for the mass production of images, which democratized art, but also raised questions about its value. The rough, sketch-like quality of the lithographic crayon is evident here, giving the scene a sense of immediacy. This contrasts with the refined subject matter: a professor instructing a woman on proper posture. Daumier often used his prints to satirize the bourgeoisie, and here he seems to be poking fun at their pretensions. The lithographic process itself, with its inherent reproducibility, can be seen as a commentary on the mass culture that was emerging in 19th-century France. It reminds us that the making of art is always intertwined with social and political forces.