Bertrand, dis donc, s'ils allaient nous faire... 1838

This lithograph was made in France by Honoré Daumier, a master of social satire. He was working at a time when printmaking was a powerful tool for influencing public opinion. In this piece, Daumier presents us with two well-dressed men in a carriage, likely members of the bourgeoisie, surrounded by a crowd of common folk. The image creates meaning through stark contrasts: the comfortable distance between the wealthy and the press of the poor, the men’s expressions of aloofness versus the crowd’s gesticulations of anger. This was a period of stark class divisions and revolutionary fervor. Daumier's caricatures of the French elite challenged the status quo and spoke to the growing resentment of the working class. Historians use sources such as newspapers, pamphlets, and other popular media of the time to better understand the context in which artworks like this were made. This helps us to appreciate how art can act as a mirror, reflecting the social tensions and political struggles of its time.