Au novel an, visite... a la tante Rabourdin 1847

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph of a family visit sometime in the 19th century. Daumier was renowned for using lithography, a printmaking technique that relies on the chemical repulsion between oil and water. He drew directly onto a stone with a greasy crayon, then treated the stone with chemicals. The image is transferred to paper through a printing press. The beauty of lithography is its directness. Daumier's marks are incredibly gestural. The resulting print retains a sense of the artist's hand, a quality that aligns it more closely with drawing than with industrial production. This directness is evident in the figures' expressions and postures. Yet, lithography was also a commercial medium, ideal for mass production and distribution. Daumier used it to create satirical commentaries on French society for newspapers and journals. In his hands, lithography becomes a powerful tool for social observation, blurring the lines between art, craft, and social commentary. It invites us to consider the social context in which art is made and consumed.