Les écuries d'Augias 1872

"Les écuries d'Augias" (1872) is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier that satirizes the French government. The image depicts a man, likely representing Emperor Napoleon III, attempting to clean up a seemingly endless pile of filth with a broom and a shovel. This pile of filth is labeled "Marchés", "Marchés de l'Empire", and "Marchés Comptés", representing the corrupt and excessive government contracts of the Second French Empire. Daumier's satirical approach to political commentary exemplifies his use of art to address social injustices, making him one of the leading figures of the Realist movement.