It is Inconvenient to Rent an Apartment Close to the River, plate 13 from Locataires et Propriétaires 1847

This lithograph, "It is Inconvenient to Rent an Apartment Close to the River", is part of Honoré Daumier’s series “Locataires et Propriétaires" (Tenants and Landlords), created in 1847. The print depicts a man, seemingly a tenant, trudging through a flooded street, a basket in one hand and a candle in the other. Daumier's satirical approach to urban life in 19th-century Paris is evident through the exaggerated hardship of the tenant's predicament. This print, like many of Daumier's works, highlights the social inequalities and the struggles of the working class during a period of rapid urbanization. The composition is framed by a dark, almost ominous, background, creating a sense of claustrophobia and emphasizing the tenant's vulnerable position. Daumier's masterful use of lithographic techniques, especially the subtle shading and the expressive lines, gives a sense of realism and depth to the artwork, drawing viewers into the gritty realities of the 19th-century Parisian cityscape.