Parlons, Madame...ces nudités sont révoltantes... c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, whose title translates to "Let’s go, Madame… these nudes are revolting!… (aside) I’ll come back by myself!" Daumier was a master of social satire in 19th-century France, a time marked by strict social codes and burgeoning bourgeois values. His work offers insight into the hypocrisy of the era. Here, Daumier captures a couple at an art salon, ostensibly scandalized by nude paintings. The humor lies in the husband’s whispered aside, exposing his eagerness to return alone. The image subtly critiques gendered expectations, with the woman playing the role of moral guardian, while the man privately indulges his desires. This print reflects Daumier’s broader commentary on the tensions between public morality and private behavior, laying bare the contradictions of a society grappling with changing norms. In his caricatures, we see a reflection of ourselves.