Ch. De Lam...., plate 156 from Célébrités de la Caricature 1832

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph, entitled "Ch. De Lam…," in 19th-century France as part of his series "Célébrités de la Caricature." Daumier was a master of using caricature to critique French society and politics. Here, Daumier directs his satirical eye towards Charles de Lameth, a figure known for his role in the French Revolution and subsequent emigration. The crest below Lameth's portrait is rich in symbolism. Notice the broken crutch and other fractured elements that tell us about Lameth's past. The banner proclaims a contradictory motto: "Emigrer N'est Pas Deserter" or "To emigrate is not to desert," a contested idea in post-Revolutionary France where emigration was often seen as abandonment of the nation. Daumier's work was published in "Le Charivari," an illustrated journal that played a crucial role in shaping public opinion. By studying publications like this, along with historical records and biographies, we can better understand the complex social and political context in which Daumier's art was both created and consumed.