Casmajou -- Ratapoil (tous deux en choeur) c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, likely in Paris, sometime in the mid-19th century, as part of his extended series titled Actualités, or Current Events. Daumier was known for his caricatures of French society, especially its political figures. Here, he depicts two characters, Casmajou and Ratapoil, who represent political opportunism and the manipulation of public opinion. They appear as pathetic figures, evoking the social conditions of post-revolutionary France, and the rise of the bourgeoisie. The image creates meaning through caricature, exaggerating the physical features of the characters to emphasize their moral failings. The accompanying text, critical of the government's ingratitude, adds another layer of political commentary. Daumier's art offers a critique of the social structures of his time. To understand Daumier better, one might consult periodicals from the period, and institutional records relating to censorship. His work reminds us that art is always contingent on social and institutional context.