Allons Bon! J'avais oublié de décharger mon fusil! c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph titled, "Allons Bon! J'avais oublié de décharger mon fusil!" in France, during a period of significant social change. Daumier, a master of social commentary, uses caricature to critique the bourgeoisie. Here, we see a hunting party traveling, presumably back to Paris. The central figure, a hunter, has accidentally discharged his rifle inside the train carriage. The reaction of his fellow passengers is one of comical horror. Daumier plays with the fear and anxiety of a rising middle class, gently mocking their pretensions and anxieties. His work appeared regularly in journals such as "Le Charivari," which were key sites for the development of a visual public sphere in nineteenth-century France. These journals were responding to the liberalization of the press and the growth of a mass reading public. To fully appreciate Daumier's work, one needs to consider the social and political context of his time. A dive into the archives of "Le Charivari" and other journals, alongside studies of French social history, are crucial for understanding the nuances of his satire.