Un joli calembour c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, “Un joli calembour,” in France, likely sometime in the mid-19th century. It depicts two men, presumably of some social standing given the context of Daumier’s work, playing dominoes in what appears to be a bathhouse. Daumier was known for his satirical commentary on French society. He worked at a time when print media was flourishing and was deeply involved in the revolutionary politics of 1848. He used his art to critique the bourgeoisie and the political elite. Here, the setting of the bathhouse, a place for leisure and relaxation, is juxtaposed with the tense game of dominoes, perhaps suggesting a commentary on the frivolous pursuits of the upper class. The men’s disheveled appearance and exaggerated features further contribute to this critique, and the caption printed below the image suggests that the artist is making light of a social transaction. Historical research into the social and political context of 19th-century France, as well as studies of Daumier’s other works and the publications in which they appeared, can illuminate his sharp observations about class, power, and social institutions.