Monsieur le sténographe ... c. 19th century

This lithograph, "Monsieur le sténographe…," was created in France by Honoré Daumier in 1849. Daumier was a master of social satire, and this print, part of a series called "Physionomie de l'Assemblée," offers a biting commentary on the political climate of the Second Republic. Daumier uses caricature to expose the self-importance and absurdity of political figures. The exaggerated features and gestures of the deputies, combined with the pointed captions, lampoon their rhetoric and behavior. The artist draws our attention to the ways that power is performed within the Assembly. To truly understand this work, we might consult newspapers and political pamphlets from the period, as well as studies of French political institutions, so that we might appreciate the subtleties of Daumier's critique and to see how effective his challenge to social norms might have been. Art like this reminds us that its meaning and impact are always shaped by the social and institutional context in which it is made and viewed.