Departure for Spain. “He will mount! he will not mount! he will mount! and no, he will not mount!!!,” plate 498 1835

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, titled "Departure for Spain," using a printing process that democratized image-making in the 19th century. Lithography allowed artists to create prints from a drawing made with a greasy crayon on a flat stone. The stone is then treated with chemicals so that the ink adheres only to the drawn areas. This particular print bears Daumier’s characteristic style; the velvety blacks, and subtle gradations of tone, result from the lithographic crayon. The efficiency of lithography facilitated the rise of illustrated newspapers and satirical prints, allowing artists like Daumier to comment on social and political issues. "Departure for Spain" critiques political events, mocking authority. The very process by which this image was made—cheap, relatively quick, and widely accessible—contributes to its meaning, reflecting the changing landscape of art production and consumption in an industrializing world. It's a powerful reminder that artistic techniques are intertwined with social context.