(He is reading a letter) “A date, could it be from the cute Mme Giraud?? Yes, but it could also come from her husband who wants to pinch me…,” plate 8 from Coquetterie 1840

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, "(He is reading a letter) “A date, could it be from the cute Mme Giraud?? Yes, but it could also come from her husband who wants to pinch me…,” sometime in the mid-19th century. The composition is stark: a single, wiry figure dominates the frame, his hesitant pose mirrored by the uncertain lines that define his form. Daumier uses hatching and cross-hatching to create a sense of depth, yet the space remains shallow, focusing our attention on the man's internal conflict. His elongated features and the slightly absurd attire, combined with the implied narrative, introduce a semiotic play. Is this about vanity, fear, or perhaps a critique of bourgeois society? Daumier destabilizes the clear boundaries between humor and social commentary, prompting viewers to question the values and behaviors represented. The seemingly simple sketch becomes a complex reflection on human nature.