Merci! Ce monsieur m'invite a chasser ... c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, entitled "Merci! Ce monsieur m'invite a chasser…," using a greasy crayon on a limestone slab. The printmaking technique allowed for the mass reproduction of this image. The composition presents two figures in the landscape after a hunt: the hunter, laden with the spoils of the day, and the landowner, portrayed as emaciated. Look closely, and you can see the details of the lithographic marks, creating shading, and depth. The process is rooted in the skill of the draughtsman. Daumier uses lithography to comment on class and social division. The hunter carries a heavy load, while the landowner is passive. This image and its making speak to the rise of mass media and its power to communicate ideas, and the labor involved in both hunting and printmaking as a form of cultural commentary.