J'ai eu beau le bercer ... c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, “I tried to rock him… impossible to get him to sleep,” using a process rooted in mass production. Lithography, a printmaking technique using a flat stone or metal plate, allowed for widespread dissemination of images, fueling political commentary and satire during the 19th century. The grainy texture and stark contrasts are a direct result of the lithographic process, where the artist draws on the stone with a greasy crayon, which then attracts ink while the wet areas repel it. This print shows a well-dressed woman, representing diplomacy, trying to put a soldier to sleep. The image speaks volumes about the social and political tensions of the time. Daumier's choice of lithography was deliberate, enabling him to reach a broad audience and engage in the pressing issues of labor, politics, and consumption. It challenges traditional distinctions between high art and craft.