Mensen bewonderen een groot Normandisch rund 1844

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph titled 'Mensen bewonderen een groot Normandisch rund,' or 'People admiring a large Norman ox' which now resides in the Rijksmuseum. Daumier was a prolific printmaker who captured the pulse of 19th-century French society. As you observe the crowd gathered around the enormous ox, consider the context of Daumier’s France. The artist lived through several political upheavals and witnessed the rise of the bourgeoisie. This print offers a satirical commentary on the values of the time. The people’s fascination with the large animal can be interpreted as a commentary on the obsession with materialism and spectacle. Daumier often used his art to critique the social and political issues of his day, giving voice to the marginalized and challenging the status quo. The figures in the print are rendered with sharp, expressive lines, emphasizing their exaggerated features and comical expressions. This focus allows Daumier to offer a critical perspective on the society he inhabited.