Décret de la commune c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, Décret de la Commune, with stark contrasts of black and white. We are confronted with an image dominated by a cluttered arrangement of papers, many emblazoned with "Quittance de Loyer" - rent receipts - which seem to cascade down the picture plane. Daumier uses this cascade of forms to explore ideas of material and social upheaval. The hand, seemingly scrubbing these documents clean, suggests a desire for a clean slate, a wiping away of the old order. Yet the density and layering create a visual metaphor for the deeply entrenched systems of property and finance. The almost sculptural treatment of the documents destabilizes established meanings through their form, where the receipts aren’t mere papers but symbols of a socio-economic structure undergoing violent transformation. These aren't just scraps; they're artifacts of a society in flux. The act of scrubbing hints at an attempt to redefine value and power. In this print, Daumier isn't merely depicting an event; he's dissecting the very idea of social change.