Hi! hi! ... Il m'a léché le beurre de ma tartine c. 19th century

This print by Honoré Daumier was made using lithography, a technique intimately tied to the rise of mass media. The image is drawn on a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then chemically treated so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. What’s interesting about lithography is its democratic nature. Unlike engraving, which requires specialized skills and tools, lithography allowed artists to create images quickly and relatively cheaply. The final print bears the mark of the artist's hand; look closely, and you can see the texture of the crayon strokes. This directness would have appealed to Daumier, who sought to capture the humor, pathos, and political realities of everyday life. As a printmaker, Daumier was acutely aware of his audience. His images were made for mass consumption, distributed widely through newspapers and journals. This work reflects the social context of 19th-century France, a time of rapid industrialization and political upheaval. By embracing lithography, Daumier aligned himself with the changing landscape of art and society, challenging traditional notions of artistic value.