Et pendant ce temps-là ils continuent à affirmer qu'elle ne s'est jamais mieux portée! 24 - 1872

This lithograph was created in 1872 by Honoré Daumier and published in the French newspaper, Le Charivari. The image depicts a gaunt, elderly woman lying in a coffin with the word 'Monarchie' on the side. Daumier was a master of social satire, and this image critiques the political climate of post-revolutionary France. The woman in the coffin represents the French monarchy, and the caption translates to, "And meanwhile, they continue to claim that she has never been better!" The image is a commentary on the conservative factions that sought to restore the monarchy despite its obvious decline. Daumier's art was deeply intertwined with the institutional and political landscape of his time. As historians, we can look to sources such as periodicals, political pamphlets, and archival records to understand the nuances of the debates reflected in this work. It reminds us that the meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.