Et dire que c'est aujourd'hui la Saint-Médard! 1845

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, "Et dire que c'est aujourd'hui la Saint-Médard!" Daumier was a master of social commentary, and here he captures a moment of domestic ennui. A family is trapped indoors, listless, as rain lashes against the window. The title refers to Saint Médard's Day, which, according to French folklore, foretells forty days of rain if it rains on that day. Made in 19th-century France, the print reflects the growing urban middle class and their changing relationship with leisure. No longer tied to the land, their lives were increasingly governed by social calendars and expectations. Daumier uses his skill in caricature to subtly critique the boredom and superficiality he saw in bourgeois society. Understanding this artwork involves delving into the popular beliefs and social customs of the time. By researching publications like "Le Charivari," where this image first appeared, we gain insight into Daumier's world and his sharp observations on the human condition.