Douze ans et demi et trois premiers prix 1839

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, "Douze ans et demi et trois premiers prix", using a greasy crayon on a stone matrix to create a print. This was a widely used technique in 19th-century France, as prints were essential for circulating political and social commentary to a broad audience. Daumier was a master of this medium, using its inherent qualities of line and tone to capture the nuances of human expression. Here, he depicts a bourgeois couple and their son. The boy's academic success is a reflection of his parents’ social aspirations. But Daumier also subtly critiques the values of this class. The parents appear stiff and self-satisfied, while the son looks weary and burdened. The lithographic process allowed Daumier to capture these details with great precision, emphasizing the social and cultural significance of his commentary. Daumier's focus on materials, making, and context challenges the distinction between fine art and craft, highlighting the importance of prints as a medium for social commentary.