The Advantage of Sharing the Fresh Air on an Italian Terrace Together with a Great Number of Insects, plate 42 from Pastorales 1846

This lithograph by Honoré Daumier, dating from the 19th century, depicts a family on a terrace, seemingly overwhelmed by insects. Daumier was a master of lithography, a printmaking technique that allows for nuanced tonal gradations. Here, he uses the greasy crayon on a stone surface to create a range of values, from the solid blacks of the figures' clothing to the hazy atmosphere filled with insects. The texture of the lithographic stone itself contributes to the overall effect, adding a subtle graininess to the image. Daumier's choice of lithography was no accident. It was a relatively inexpensive and efficient method of mass production, perfectly suited for disseminating his satirical commentary to a wide audience through newspapers and journals. In this print, the contrast between the refined setting and the annoying insects highlights the absurdity of bourgeois leisure, suggesting that even the privileged cannot escape the irritations of modern life. The very process of making this image, through mass media, underscores the social critique embedded within it.