Ah! il m'a donné congé... 1847

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, titled "Ah! il m'a donné congé..." during a time of significant social and political change in France. As urbanization increased, so did tensions between landlords and tenants, a dynamic which Daumier frequently explored in his satirical prints. Here, we see a man furiously tearing wallpaper from the walls of his apartment. His face is contorted with rage, embodying the frustrations of the working class facing eviction. In the background, movers carry furniture, underscoring the disruption and displacement caused by economic hardship. The caption translates to: "Ah! he gave me notice... well, I’ll take his wallpaper... I wish I could take his walls!" Daumier’s work speaks to issues of power, class struggle, and the personal indignity of being dispossessed. It invites us to consider the emotional toll of economic inequality and the lengths to which people might go when pushed to their limits. It is a stark reminder of the human cost of social inequity, rendered with dark humor.