L'or est une chimère c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier made this print, "L'or est une chimère", using lithography, a printing technique that democratized image-making in the 19th century. Lithography allowed artists to create multiple copies of their work relatively quickly and inexpensively. Daumier drew directly on a stone with a greasy crayon, a process that captures a remarkable level of detail, as you can see in the rendering of the figure's clothing. The artist's marks have a wonderful, immediate quality. The medium itself invites social commentary, allowing for broad distribution, and speaking to a wide audience. Daumier made many such prints for satirical magazines. This one captures the experience of economic inequality. By focusing on process, we can see how this print embodies the social conditions of its time. It is a reminder that art is always entangled with labor, politics, and consumption.