Eh!... Eh!... mais il parait que... 1843

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, "Eh!... Eh!... mais il parait que..." in France to be published in the Le Charivari newspaper. The print captures a scene within the social space of the Champs-Élysées, where a man, surrounded by onlookers, is testing his strength on a machine. Daumier uses the image to comment on the vanity of the bourgeoisie and the spectacle of public life in 19th-century Paris. The man's disheveled appearance and the reactions of those around him create a satirical critique of social pretensions. Consider the rise of mass media and visual culture during this time, where newspapers and prints played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and reflecting social norms. Daumier often used his art to critique the institutions of his time, questioning social hierarchies and norms. To understand Daumier's work fully, one might delve into the archives of Le Charivari or explore studies of French social history. Art history is not just about the artwork but also the world in which it was made and viewed.