“You Sniff the Merchandise… Before Buying It,” plate 32 from Types Parisiens 1839

“You Sniff the Merchandise… Before Buying It,” is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, part of his series "Types Parisiens". The humorous work depicts a butcher and a customer, a woman, in a Parisian butcher shop. The woman is in the process of smelling a piece of meat, demonstrating the customer's distrust and desire to carefully inspect their purchases in 19th century Paris. Daumier was a master of social satire, using his art to critique the follies of the Parisian middle class and the realities of poverty. This lithograph exemplifies the social commentary that made Daumier one of the most celebrated artists of his time.