Les nouveaux chalets c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier created "Les Nouveaux Chalets" using lithography, a printmaking technique involving drawing on stone with a greasy crayon, then using ink to transfer the image to paper. This process was a mainstay of mass media in 19th-century France, allowing artists like Daumier to reach a wide audience with their social commentary. The lithograph's strength lies in its ability to capture texture and tone. Daumier masterfully uses hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and shadow, giving the characters a tangible presence. Look closely, and you can see the subtle gradations that define the figures' faces and clothing, as well as the hastily-built chalets behind them. But the material is not neutral. Lithography was a commercial medium, and Daumier's prints were often produced quickly and in large numbers for newspapers and journals. This immediacy allowed him to respond directly to the social and political issues of his day, like wealth disparity, as seen here. The artist is using the mode of production to highlight themes of labor, politics, and consumption, and challenging the traditional art world through accessible prints.