Les Hommes de vingt-cinq ans... 1855

Here we see a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, a French printmaker known for his satirical caricatures of political and social life in 19th-century France. This print, whose title translates to "The men of twenty-five years..., coming to demand reason from M. Flourens for the way they were classified in his book", encapsulates the tensions between scientific classification and human identity. The "men" in question appear more like grotesque caricatures, their identities seemingly obscured by their outfits. Daumier uses the visual language of caricature to critique the scientific reduction of human beings into categories. This work offers a glimpse into how identity, particularly masculinity, was being shaped and contested during a period of rapid scientific advancement. The men’s emotional response—their anger and confrontation—speaks to the personal impact of being classified and potentially misunderstood. The artwork invites us to reflect on how societal categorizations can affect individual identity and emotional well-being.