Paul de Kock. The Big City 1842

"Paul de Kock. The Big City" is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier created in 1842. The artwork depicts two men, one seated and smoking a pipe, the other lying down, likely asleep. The scene is set in a simple, cramped space, likely a boarding house or shared lodging. Daumier, a prolific artist known for his social commentary, captures the stark realities of poverty and the lives of ordinary people in 19th-century Paris through this realistic and poignant image. His use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a sense of depth and texture. "The Big City" exemplifies Daumier's talent for observing and portraying the everyday lives of those often overlooked by society.