Le déjeuner du patron le sixiéme clerc ... c. 19th century

Here we see Honoré Daumier's lithograph, a study in contrasts, presenting two tiers of Parisian society through the simple act of eating. The composition is structured around a stark division, both physically and socioeconomically. Above, the 'patron' enjoys a well-laid table, suggested by the ample forms and relaxed posture. Daumier uses rounded shapes to evoke ease and plenty. Below, the sixth clerk is depicted with angular lines, emphasizing the meagerness of his meal and the rigidity of his position within the office hierarchy. Daumier employs a semiotic system, where the fullness of form equates to wealth and power, and conversely, the leanness of line signifies poverty and subordination. This visual encoding speaks volumes about the social inequalities of 19th-century Paris. The graphic structure underscores a critical commentary on labor and class division.