Plaisanterie que se permettent ... c. 19th century

This lithograph was created by Honoré Daumier, a French printmaker known for his satirical commentaries on 19th-century French society. The image is rendered in lithography, a printmaking technique that involves drawing on a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then using ink to transfer the image to paper. Daumier was a master of this process, using its inherent qualities to create images with a strong sense of immediacy and spontaneity. The marks and textures that emerge through lithography are not dissimilar to drawing, and this gives the print an informal, vernacular feel. Consider the labor involved in producing an image like this. The artist had to be skilled not only in drawing but also in the technical aspects of lithography, understanding how to prepare the stone, apply the ink, and pull the print. And, of course, prints like this one relied on the printing trade, which allowed images to be widely circulated, bringing social and political commentary to a broad audience. In Daumier's hands, lithography became a powerful tool for social critique, challenging the status quo and giving voice to the struggles of everyday people.