Ce monsieur, au sortier de l'estaminet ... c. 19th century

"Ce monsieur, au sortir de l'estaminet ..." is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, a prominent French artist known for his satirical social commentary. The drawing depicts a man slumped in despair after losing his last twenty francs at a gambling den. Daumier's sharp lines and dramatic use of light and shadow highlight the man's desolation, emphasizing the social ills of poverty and the dangers of gambling prevalent in 19th-century France. The artwork's caption, "He thinks of Rothschild, of Saint-Cloud, of selling his mattress...anything but to stop playing", underscores the man's desperation and reinforces Daumier's critique of societal inequalities. This lithograph exemplifies Daumier's mastery of social realism and his ability to evoke powerful emotions through simple yet evocative imagery.