Dimensions: 208 × 271 mm (image); 276 × 359 mm (sheet)
Copyright: Public Domain
Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, Paid By the Minute, as plate 447 for his series Actualités. Daumier lived through considerable political upheaval in 19th-century France, and his work often critiques the bourgeoisie and their obsession with money. Here, we see a caricature of a horse-drawn carriage with two passengers berating the driver for their lack of speed. The title, "Paid by the Minute," encapsulates the anxiety of a rising capitalist class fixated on the relentless march of time as it correlates to money. The emotional depth comes from Daumier's ability to capture the impatience and the absurdity of a society consumed by financial gain. Daumier challenges conventional representations by highlighting the tensions between different social classes, and he uses satire to expose their flaws. This print serves as a sharp commentary on the human condition, where economic pressures distort our interactions and values.
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