The Parisians don't quite trust the assurances of Monsieur Babinet and insist on lying in wait for the comet, plate 394 from Actualités 1 - 1857

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, "The Parisians don't quite trust the assurances of Monsieur Babinet and insist on lying in wait for the comet," using a greasy crayon on a slab of limestone. Lithography, popular in the 19th century, allowed for relatively quick reproduction of images, which suited Daumier's work as a satirical commentator. The image is rich in texture, built up from tiny strokes of the crayon. Look closely, and you can see how he varies the pressure to create different tones and suggest depth. Daumier was a master of capturing human expression, and this print is no exception. The process of lithography allowed Daumier to produce many images and disseminate them widely through periodicals, reaching a broad audience and commenting on social and political issues of his time. He would have been paid for this work, making a living through this form of mass production and political critique. So in the end, it’s through understanding the social context of printmaking, and the artist’s engagement with this medium, that we truly grasp the work's meaning and significance.