Gezin loopt in een sneeuwstorm Possibly 1843

Honoré Daumier created "Family Walking in a Snowstorm," a lithograph, in 19th-century France, a time of vast social change and political upheaval. Daumier, known for his satirical commentary on Parisian life, here captures a moment of domestic tension amidst the harsh realities of urban existence. We see a family battling a snowstorm, the mother scolding her husband: "You've been telling me it's snowing for an hour; I can see it well enough! And to think I have an umbrella at home!" The biting dialogue and the family's expressions speak volumes about gender roles and class struggles. The woman’s frustration is palpable, perhaps reflecting the limited agency afforded to women in that era. The man, bundled up but seemingly unresponsive, hints at the emotional labor often dismissed in patriarchal structures. The child, caught in the middle, embodies the vulnerability of innocence amidst societal pressures. Daumier's print makes us reflect on the everyday battles fought within families as they navigate the storms of life, both literal and metaphorical.