Le marchand de contremarques c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, entitled ‘Le marchand de contremarques’, as part of his series on Parisian life. It captures the social dynamics of theatre-going in 19th-century France. Daumier uses caricature to critique the class divisions inherent in Parisian cultural institutions. We see a transaction at a ticket booth, likely for discounted tickets, known as ‘contremarques’, between a middle-class man and a ticket vendor. The vendor’s exaggerated features and obsequious posture reveal a system where access to culture is mediated by economic status. Daumier, working during the July Monarchy and Second Empire, often commented on the bourgeoisie's pretensions and the commodification of art. To fully understand this work, research into the economics of Parisian theatres and the social stratification of audiences in the 1800s would be beneficial. Daumier’s work serves as a reminder that the meaning of art is always intertwined with its social and institutional context.