Commission des bastonnades c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, Commission des bastonnades, at a time of significant social and political upheaval in France. Daumier critiqued the bourgeoisie and brought attention to the lives of the working class, often using satire to highlight injustice and inequality. Here, Daumier depicts a scene of cultural conflict and prejudice. The central figure, presumably a foreigner, is flanked by figures ready to inflict violence, while a tribunal looks on. The inscription reveals the premise: a commission is assembled to determine whether a foreign young man should be subjected to "la bastonnade," a form of corporal punishment. The text suggests the commission suspects the young man of heresy, warranting punishment. Daumier masterfully portrays the tension between the seemingly civilized world of law and the barbarity of prejudice and violence. The emotional impact is palpable, inviting reflection on themes of xenophobia and cultural intolerance, issues as relevant today as they were in 19th-century France.