Come Here Little Chick, Chick..... Chick... Chick, Come Little Turkeys, plate 442 1834

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, "Come Here Little Chick, Chick..... Chick... Chick, Come Little Turkeys", in nineteenth-century France. Here, Daumier critiques the political climate through satire. In the image, we see an overdressed man luring chicks, or perhaps turkeys, out of a coop labelled "political hen house," seemingly offering them money. Daumier uses caricature to mock the corrupt politicians of his time, portraying them as greedy figures bribing the public with promises of financial gain. The chickens represent the gullible masses, easily swayed by empty promises. This print would have originally appeared in "Le Charivari", a satirical journal, and it reflects the growing discontent with the ruling classes. To understand Daumier's work, we can research the political scandals of the period and the role of the press in shaping public opinion. Art like this offers invaluable insight into social and institutional contexts.