Gezin met gezondheidsklachten 1839

This lithograph, "Family with Health Complaints," was made by Honoré Daumier. Lithography is a printmaking process using a flat stone or metal plate, a greasy medium, and acid. Unlike engraving, where the image is incised, lithography allows for a more fluid, drawing-like approach. Daumier was a master of this technique, using it to create satirical images of 19th-century French society. The strong lines and areas of shading, characteristic of lithography, enable the artist to emphasize the caricatured features and emotional intensity of the figures. Notice how the lines capture the tense exchange between the parents and children’s apprehension. This print was produced for a mass audience, and distributed in a journal. Daumier's choice of lithography speaks to his commitment to social critique and the accessibility of his art. By employing this printing technique, his commentary on class, health, and domestic life could reach a wide audience, blurring the boundaries between fine art and popular culture. For Daumier, materials and making were always about social context.