Un parricide c. 19th century

This lithograph titled "Un parricide," by Honoré Daumier, offers a stark commentary on the state of the press and its self-inflicted wounds. Created during a time of significant political upheaval in France, Daumier’s work often critiqued the bourgeoisie and the institutions that upheld their power. Here, Daumier invokes the emotionally charged theme of patricide to expose what he sees as the press’s betrayal of its own foundational values. "La Presse" is depicted as a figure hunched over, seemingly oblivious to the looming threat behind her: a man wielding a club labeled "Loi sur la Presse," or "Law on the Press." The visual metaphor is clear: the very laws meant to protect the press are now being used to destroy it. Daumier masterfully captures the sense of impending doom, evoking a feeling of betrayal. The image serves as a powerful indictment of the way political power can corrupt and ultimately dismantle the very institutions designed to hold it in check.