“- Now I understand why this chap was so quiet all the time..... instead of reading quietly in his Greek dictionary, he was indulging in a novel by de Kock.... Oh my God.... where is this all going to end!!,” plate 22 from Professeurs Et Moutards 1846

This lithograph, made by Honoré Daumier in the 19th century, captures a moment of academic scandal. Daumier was a master of this printmaking process, which relies on the resistance between grease and water. He would have drawn his image on a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then chemically treated the surface so that ink would adhere only to the drawn lines. The resulting print reveals Daumier's sharp social observations and his critical view of the French bourgeoisie. Lithography allowed for mass production, making art accessible to a wider audience, and thus perfectly suited for political satire. The cross-hatching and varied line weights create a sense of depth and texture, emphasizing the teacher's exasperation and the student's guilt. This print, like many by Daumier, speaks volumes about the social dynamics of his time and the subversive power of art. The print medium itself democratized art, reflecting the changing social landscape that Daumier so keenly observed and critiqued.