Comte Portalis - Duc de Bassano - Comte de Montlosier 1835

This lithograph of Comte Portalis, Duc de Bassano, and Comte de Montlosier was made by Honoré Daumier sometime in the mid-19th century. Lithography, a printmaking technique using a flat stone or metal plate, allowed Daumier to create multiple copies of his satirical images. The medium itself is crucial to understanding Daumier's work. Lithography democratized image-making, enabling mass production and distribution through newspapers and journals. Daumier skillfully used the greasy crayon on the lithographic stone to capture the nuances of light and shadow, emphasizing the physical bulk of his subjects. Each print demanded a careful hand, balancing artistic expression with the demands of reproduction. Daumier's choice of lithography highlights the connection between art, labor, and social commentary. By employing this relatively accessible technique, he could critique the elite from a more popular, grounded perspective, challenging the traditional hierarchy of fine art. It reminds us that artistic expression is always intertwined with the means of production, and that the most potent critiques often emerge from the intersection of craft and social consciousness.