Distribution de vivres un jour d'extra c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph entitled "Distribution de vivres un jour d'extra" in 1854. It caricatures the distribution of food or perhaps fuel, to the poor in France. This image creates meaning through its exaggerated figures and dark, expressive lines which create a sense of social critique. Daumier was working during a period of significant social and political upheaval in France. Following the 1848 revolution, the Second Republic was established, but it was soon overthrown by Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, who established the Second Empire in 1852. Daumier's art often comments on the social structures of his time, critiquing the corruption and inequality of the ruling class. The institutions of art, such as the press and the Salon, played a significant role in shaping public opinion and Daumier used his platform as a caricaturist to challenge those existing social norms. Historical research into the political context of 19th-century France helps us to understand Daumier’s concerns and what he was trying to say. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.