Industrie chinoise c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, Industrie chinoise, during a time when European nations were expanding their empires and viewing other cultures through a lens of prejudice and misunderstanding. The print caricatures Chinese people, reflecting the period’s widespread stereotypes. Daumier uses satire to critique the industrial practices attributed to the Chinese, portraying them as deceptive. The inscription mocks the Chinese for being industrious enough to find ways to make coffee, chicory, milk and wine, without the original ingredients. This image appeared during a time of increased trade and cultural exchange with China, but also amid rising xenophobia and racist sentiment in Europe. Daumier's caricature serves as a reminder of how cultural biases can influence perceptions and misrepresent entire groups of people. It captures the anxiety and prejudice that accompanied globalization and the encounter with unfamiliar cultures.