Une Famille chez qui réside l'instinct guerrier 1847

Honoré Daumier sketched this lithograph, titled *Une Famille chez qui réside l'instinct guerrier*, which translates to “A family in whom resides the warrior instinct”, sometime in 19th century France. Daumier was a master of social satire, and here he directs his sharp wit at the militaristic fervor gripping French society. A young boy, comically dwarfed by an enormous bearskin hat and wielding a sword, stands before a butcher, who is similarly burdened by his tools of trade. Daumier uses the visual language of caricature to critique the glorification of war, and how this obsession permeates even the domestic sphere. The artwork reflects the social climate of 19th-century France, marked by a series of military conflicts and a growing sense of nationalism. Daumier’s image challenges the romantic ideals of warfare, exposing its absurdity through humor. To understand Daumier fully, we need to consult periodicals, political tracts, and popular imagery from the time. Only then can we fully grasp his critique of the institutions shaping French society and his questioning of the public role of art.