Troisième et dernière séance du congrès ... c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, "Third and Last Session of the Peace Congress," which captures the social and political climate of 19th-century France. Daumier was known for his satirical commentary on French society, especially its political institutions. Here, he lampoons the Peace Congress, an international assembly meant to foster peace, by depicting its members in a grotesque embrace. The image uses caricature to amplify its critique, with exaggerated features emphasizing the absurdity of the event. This was a time when the role of art was being heavily debated; should art serve the status quo, or should it challenge it? Daumier’s work, published in journals such as *Le Charivari*, indicates that the printing press was becoming an important tool for social commentary, existing outside the traditional institutions of art such as the Salon. Art history helps us understand such works through careful study of the cultural contexts in which they were created and consumed. By consulting archives of periodicals and political tracts, we can gain a deeper understanding of the role of art in shaping public discourse.