La princesse c. 19th century

This lithograph, La Princesse, was made by Honoré Daumier in the 19th century. Lithography is a printmaking process that relies on the chemical repulsion between oil and water. Daumier would have drawn his design on a stone with a greasy crayon, then treated the stone so that ink would adhere only to the drawn areas. The final product allows for a degree of detail and shading. Daumier used the process to create biting social commentaries, mostly aimed at the bourgeoisie. Note the sharp features of the actor, and the limp body of the princess on the stage. The caption translates as "Come on, be ferocious, hurry up with your monologue... you've been dying for an hour... and you know they are waiting for me for dinner!". Daumier understood the inherent absurdity of theatre, its labor, and the social rituals surrounding it, and captured it deftly. It’s a reminder that artistic techniques and social observations are often intertwined.