Caricatures of paintings by Daubigny and others in Le Salon Pour Rire 1863 - 1873

André Gill created this lithograph titled, "Caricatures of paintings by Daubigny and others in Le Salon Pour Rire," in France during the late 19th century. It was a time when the art world was rapidly changing, with new styles like Impressionism challenging traditional academic art. Gill's caricature was published in a humor magazine, and it reflects a critical attitude toward the art establishment. The "Salon" was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and it represented the pinnacle of artistic success. By lampooning the works of established artists like Daubigny, Gill is questioning the authority and taste of the Salon. The visual codes used here are exaggeration and absurdity. The artist mocks the style and subject matter of the paintings, suggesting that they are pretentious or ridiculous. This kind of satire was a way for artists and intellectuals to challenge the conservative values of the art world and to push for new forms of expression. To understand this work better, we can study publications from the time.