At the Odeon Theater. “- The new production of TARTUFFE seems to be very good, but I am furious that there is no performance tonight… there have been restrictions, I presume?… - But no, Monsieur… - Well, I have been warned that it would end with the apotheosis of Béranger!,” plate 456 from Actualités 1857

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph titled "At the Odeon Theater" to be published as a print in France. Daumier's print satirizes Parisian cultural life. We see a couple of bourgeois theatregoers complaining that the play they came to see, Molière's "Tartuffe," has been canceled. The man suspects censorship due to a perceived connection between the play and the poet Béranger. The scene becomes a commentary on censorship and the social and political tensions of the time. Daumier was deeply engaged in the turbulent politics of 19th-century France, and frequently used his art to critique the social and political norms of his day. His prints often targeted the bourgeoisie, the legal system, and the government, reflecting his progressive leanings. To understand the depth of his satire, scholars can delve into the historical context of 19th-century France through period newspapers, political pamphlets, and theatre archives. This close attention to the socio-political environment is key to interpreting Daumier's art.