Comment Madame Prudhomme ... En vivandière ... c. 19th century

Here we see a lithograph made by Honoré Daumier sometime in the 19th century. The printmaking technique of lithography involves drawing with a greasy crayon on a smooth stone, treating it with chemicals, and then using that stone to print multiple impressions. The appeal of lithography lay in its relative ease and inexpensiveness, making it a perfect medium for satire. Daumier’s image, made for mass circulation, shows a domestic dispute. We can practically hear the argument between Monsieur and Madame Prudhomme. The quality of the line is critical. It's not just about what is represented, but how. The artist has used the lithographic crayon to create a sense of depth, weight, and texture, especially visible in the patterned fabric of the husband's nightclothes. By choosing lithography, a relatively democratic medium, Daumier ensured that his critique of bourgeois life reached a wide audience. It’s a great example of how a work’s material and mode of production can be just as important as its subject matter.