Physiognomy of the Stock Exchange. The despair of the baissier and the triumph of the haussier - or crying and laughing, plate 440 from Actualités 1857

"Physiognomy of the Stock Exchange. The despair of the baissier and the triumph of the haussier - or crying and laughing," is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier from 1857. This satirical print is a part of Daumier's "Actualités" series, which critiqued contemporary French society, especially the upper class. The lithograph depicts a stockbroker, a "baissier" (bear), looking dejected, and another figure, a "haussier" (bull), who appears jubilant. Daumier's sharp and detailed lines capture the stark contrast in their expressions, symbolizing the volatility and instability of the stock market. This artwork is a powerful and insightful commentary on the human emotions and financial anxieties associated with stock exchange speculation.