It Naples. - The Commission of Bastonnades During Their Delicate Job. “- It took a while to convince this one to yell: "LONG LIVE THE KING!"... but finally we got to the bottom... and now he is completely in favour of the Government..,” plate 213 from Actualités 1855

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, titled “It Naples,” as plate 213 from Actualités. Through satire, Daumier throws light on the political climate and social injustices of 19th-century France. This print depicts the brutal methods used to enforce loyalty to the monarchy in Naples. The central figure, holding a club, stands as a symbol of oppressive power, while in the background, two figures carry a limp body, suggesting violence and coercion. Daumier critiques the abuse of power and the suppression of dissent through raw and visceral imagery. "It took a while to convince this one to yell: 'LONG LIVE THE KING!'... but finally we got to the bottom... and now he is completely in favour of the Government," reads the caption, exposing the government's use of violence to achieve political obedience. Daumier uses his art to question the ethical implications of governance, offering a commentary on the human cost of political repression. His work invites us to reflect on the relationship between power, violence, and compliance.