Strange.. this is what the French call "Chinois,” plate 21 from En Chine 1859

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, titled "Strange.. this is what the French call 'Chinois,'" as part of his series "En Chine." Published in a French journal during a period of increasing colonial encounters with Asia, this piece reflects the prevailing European attitudes toward China. The print depicts two figures who are, presumably, meant to represent Chinese individuals, with exaggerated features and costumes, one offers the other a vase. The inscription reads "Dire que c'est là ce que les Français appellent des chinois!" or "To think that this is what the French call Chinese!" Daumier’s caricature uses humor to comment on the French perception of the Chinese. It serves as a reminder of how cultural biases and stereotypes can shape our understanding and representation of other people. This print underscores the power dynamics inherent in cross-cultural representation and the importance of viewing such images with a critical eye.