Louis-Philippe, dernier roi des français c. 19th century

Here we see Honoré Daumier’s lithograph “Louis-Philippe, dernier roi des français,” a biting satire on the last king of France, created around 1848. Daumier was a master of caricature, and his works often reflected his deep republican beliefs. The print depicts Louis-Philippe as a medal, or perhaps a coin, an object often associated with national pride and enduring legacy. But here, the image is unflattering, almost grotesque. The title suggests this is a post-mortem assessment of the monarch who was ousted during the 1848 revolution. The added text mocks the idea of minting this medal at the National Mint by calling it “l’hôtel National des Monnaies” and changing the word ‘monnaies’ [coins] to ‘mommies’. Daumier's print not only critiques a specific king but also questions the very idea of monarchy and its relationship to national identity. It prompts us to consider who gets to shape historical narratives and whose perspectives are memorialized, or in this case, lampooned. The power of this image lies in its ability to evoke a sense of disillusionment with authority, and to highlight the fleeting nature of power and fame.