A la mairie ... c. 19th century

"A la mairie... " is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, a prominent French artist and social commentator, created in the 19th century. This satirical caricature, often referred to as "At the Town Hall", depicts a scene of a marriage ceremony, mocking the social and legal constraints placed upon women during that era. The image portrays a woman appearing reluctant and overwhelmed as a man reads the legal text emphasizing the "obedience and submission" owed to her husband. Daumier's powerful use of caricature and social commentary made him a central figure in Realist art, capturing the complexities of 19th-century French society.