Benjamin Delessert c. 1832 - 1930

This is Honoré Daumier's bronze sculpture of Benjamin Delessert. Daumier was a master of caricature, famous for his satirical lithographs that skewered the political and social elite of 19th century France. This sculpture is one in a series of portrait busts of French parliamentarians, made during the July Monarchy, a time of political upheaval. But rather than heroic depictions, Daumier exaggerates his subjects' features, revealing their self-importance and moral failings. Notice how the rough, almost unfinished surface of the bronze adds to the sense of immediacy and unflattering realism. Daumier’s sculptures were never exhibited in his lifetime; they remained a secret critique, a kind of underground resistance to the established order. To fully appreciate the subversive nature of Daumier's art, one needs to delve into the political climate of the time, exploring sources like period newspapers, political pamphlets, and the records of artistic salons. Through this kind of contextual study, we discover how art can challenge the status quo.