Rifolard opens the ball and executes a bold dancing step forward, which receives widespread praise, plate 5 from Les Banqueteurs 1848

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, "Rifolard opens the ball and executes a bold dancing step forward, which receives widespread praise," in the 19th century. Notice how Daumier uses line to create form and convey movement. The composition centers on Rifolard, whose forward step is accentuated by the swirling lines of his coat and the stark contrast between his dark attire and the lighter dresses of his partners. This contrast draws our eye and captures the energy of the dance. The surrounding figures, rendered with varying degrees of detail, form a backdrop that highlights Rifolard's prominent position. Daumier masterfully employs hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and texture, lending a sense of volume to the figures despite the monochromatic palette. The distortion of Rifolard's features, a common trait in Daumier's caricatures, challenges conventional representations of elegance, using exaggeration to critique social pretensions. Through these formal elements, Daumier’s lithograph operates within a complex interplay of line, form, and social commentary, inviting ongoing interpretation of its cultural critique.