Paris grippé c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, called "Paris grippé" or "Paris with the flu" in French, to be published in a newspaper. It shows Parisians wrapped up against the cold, and perhaps the illness of the title. Daumier worked in a period when newspapers and journals flourished in Paris, supported by new print technology and a relatively free press. The rise of print media created a public sphere, in which images and opinions circulated widely. Daumier and his fellow artists were key players in this world. This image would have commented on the social conditions of his own time by offering commentary on the lived experience of Parisians. The title "Actualités" at the top, a common section in Newspapers for current events, makes the artwork appear to be documenting events as they unfold. To understand this image better, you might research French newspapers of the time and look into how their prints circulated in Paris. In this way, we can begin to understand the public role of art in shaping the experience and social awareness of nineteenth-century Parisians.