Karikatuur van een tabakverkoper 1840 - 1870

Édouard Traviès created this caricature of a tobacco seller using lithography. The print is a component of a broader collection titled "La Comedie Humaine". It's likely this lithograph was made in France, sometime in the mid-19th century, when popular prints burgeoned. The image is striking for its depiction of a man who seems almost consumed by his profession. The exaggerated features, like his prominent nose and intent gaze, make him appear totally absorbed in the act of weighing tobacco. This work serves as a sharp comment on the emerging culture of commerce and consumerism. The phrase underneath, "J'ai du bon tabac," or "I have good tobacco," speaks volumes about the economic priorities of the time. Understanding the full impact of a work like this demands an understanding of the historical context. We can research publications from the era to fully comprehend the social commentary. These give us the ability to decode its critique of 19th century French society.