Le Commerce un jour d'échéance 1851

"Le Commerce un jour d'échéance" (Commerce on a Due Date), created in 1851 by Honoré Daumier, is a satirical lithograph depicting a man, likely a businessman, desperate to enter a pawnshop ("Mont de Piété") to avoid financial ruin. Daumier was known for his social commentary, and this piece, with its exaggerated figures and poignant expressions, criticizes the social and economic hardships of 19th-century France, particularly the plight of those facing financial distress. The lithograph is a classic example of Daumier's sharp wit and his ability to expose societal injustices through his art.