J. Antoine Taschereau 1848

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph of J. Antoine Taschereau. Lithography involves drawing with a greasy crayon on a stone or metal plate, then using oil and water to fix the image for printing. Looking at the material qualities of lithography, the grainy texture enhances Daumier's satirical style. See how the fine lines capture the details of Taschereau's face, exaggerating his features for comic effect. The process allows for a range of tones, giving depth to the figure. The relative ease of this printing process made prints like these accessible to a wide audience. Daumier, working amidst the rise of newspapers and public opinion, critiqued politics and society through this medium. The lines in this work represent not just aesthetic choices, but a whole mode of political engagement. Consider how the materiality of lithography democratized art. By understanding its production, we move beyond aesthetics, appreciating its broader social impact.