The Tuileries Gardens. “- No smoking here, Sir! - You mean in the garden?,” plate 10 from Le Chapitre Des Interprétations 1843

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, titled 'The Tuileries Gardens,' as part of his series “Le Chapitre Des Interprétations.” It captures a moment of social tension in 19th-century Paris, revealing insights into class and power dynamics. The print depicts a uniformed official confronting two elegantly dressed men smoking in the Tuileries Garden. The dialogue underscores a tension between public regulation and personal freedom, hinting at the negotiation of social boundaries within public spaces. Daumier was a republican who frequently satirized the bourgeoisie and legal system in France, but what is particularly poignant here is how the working class is completely absent. The setting is significant; the Tuileries Gardens were a popular place for Parisians of all classes to mingle. As such, the gardens were a stage for the performance of social status. The image evokes questions about who has the right to occupy and enjoy public spaces, and under what conditions. Daumier’s commentary here on class, access, and behavior in public spaces highlights the complex interplay of social codes and individual liberties.