Une mine d'or qui dort c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, "Une mine d'or qui dort," or "A sleeping gold mine," in nineteenth-century France. Here, Daumier presents two figures amidst a sparse landscape with a windmill in the background, seemingly discussing the nature of investment. The print appeared in "Le Charivari," a satirical newspaper that critiqued the social and political norms of its time. France was undergoing rapid industrialization and economic change, which created new opportunities for wealth but also anxieties about financial speculation. This work satirizes the idea of easy wealth through investment, suggesting the speculative and often foolish nature of financial markets. Daumier was known for his critiques of the bourgeoisie and the emerging capitalist class. Examining "Le Charivari" and other publications from the period, one can gain deeper insights into the print culture and the political debates of the time, allowing us to understand the social and institutional context that shaped Daumier's artistic output.