En Voila un de plaisir! 1841

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, "En Voila un de plaisir!" using a greasy crayon on a block of limestone, a process that democratized printmaking in the 19th century. Daumier’s genius was to take this relatively new, accessible medium and use it to skewer the pretensions of the bourgeoisie. Here we see a well-to-do man, whip in hand, about to test the ice – and perhaps take a tumble. The stark black lines create a sense of immediacy, mirroring the suddenness of a fall. Note the smudges and tonal variations, especially in the "ice," achieved by varying the pressure on the lithographic stone. Lithography enabled mass production, but still required skilled labor, balancing industrialization with traditional craft. Daumier's sharp wit, combined with the lithographer's art, made his social critiques widely accessible, a potent blend of material and message. Appreciating the materials and processes used gives us a richer understanding of its cultural significance.