L'Esprit frappeur c. 1851

"L'Esprit frappeur" (c. 1851) is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier that satirizes the social gatherings of 19th-century Parisian society. The composition, rendered in Daumier’s characteristic loose yet expressive style, depicts a group of figures gathered in a room. A figure with a tray, likely a servant, stands prominently in the foreground, while a group of wealthy individuals sit in the background, seemingly unimpressed by the servant's presence. The drawing's exaggerated proportions and facial expressions highlight the absurdity of social hierarchies and the often superficial nature of these gatherings.