Trop étroit pour deux 1870

This is 'Trop étroit pour deux,' or 'Too Narrow for Two,' by Honoré Daumier. While we don't have the exact date, it’s typical of his satirical lithographs, created for mass circulation in newspapers. Daumier’s mastery of lithography allowed him to quickly produce images commenting on social and political issues. The process involves drawing with a greasy crayon on a stone, which is then chemically treated so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. This allowed for the relatively quick production of images for mass consumption, aligning with the rise of print capitalism. Look closely, and you will notice how Daumier used the soft, grainy texture of the lithographic crayon to create a sense of volume and depth, and caricature the figures. The medium lends itself to expressive line work, which he used to great effect. The image is full of texture. His work reminds us that the materials and processes used to create art are never neutral; they always carry social and cultural meaning, and challenge traditional notions of fine art.