Un Matamore portant une... botte... 1851

Honoré Daumier made this lithograph titled, "Un Matamore portant une... botte..." Daumier, living through the turbulent years following the French Revolution, was acutely aware of the shifting sands of political power and the plight of the common person. In this cartoon we see a swaggering figure, a "matamore," or a boastful, often cowardly, character from traditional comedies. Daumier exaggerates his features to caricature a puffed-up persona. With a sword, the matamore menacingly pokes at a torn document labeled "Constitution." Daumier used his art as a form of social commentary, often skewering the bourgeoisie and the political elite. His work embodies a critical perspective on the exercise of power and the fragility of democratic ideals. He captures a sense of disillusionment. As you consider this image, think about the enduring relevance of its critique. In what ways does it speak to the power dynamics of our own time?