Le garde national Rifolard ... 1848

This lithograph, by Honoré Daumier, would have been printed on paper using a stone matrix and greasy inks. The lithographic process allowed artists to reproduce images quickly and cheaply, playing a crucial role in the rise of mass media and political satire. Daumier was a master of this medium, using its inherent qualities to capture the social and political life of 19th-century France. Look closely, and you'll see the marks of the crayon on the lithographic stone. Daumier's skillful application gives the image a sense of immediacy and energy. The print is titled "The National Guardsman Rifolard...". It depicts a guardsman leaving his family to attend a banquet. The image satirizes the pomposity and self-importance of the bourgeoisie, who often used their positions in the National Guard to advance their own social and political ambitions. Through lithography, Daumier democratized art, bringing it to a wider audience and challenging the traditional hierarchy between fine art and popular culture.