Faut-y qu'il en ait fume des pipes celui-la c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, titled "Faut-y qu'il en ait fumé des pipes celui-la," which translates roughly to "He must have smoked a lot of pipes to get into such a mess," amidst a 19th-century France grappling with social stratification. Daumier, known for his sharp social commentary, here captures a moment of apparent contemplation between two figures, one Black and one white. This image invites us to consider the racial dynamics embedded within its composition. The Black figure, seated and smoking, perhaps embodies a stereotype or a commentary on leisure and labor. Meanwhile, the standing white figure's gaze and posture suggest a complex relationship, possibly one of observation, judgment, or even envy. The artist makes you wonder, through the relationship between these two figures, what hidden societal narratives are being smoked into existence? In what ways can historical depictions challenge or perpetuate existing inequalities?