“- Yes, my dear Badoulard... I will open a department store even more philanthropic and greater than anything that existed up to now.... it will carry the complete set of articles at half price... someone can come in as naked as a new born baby and leave fully dressed, including cane, umbrella and cigarette lighter! - But then you will ruin all the small little shops in the neighborhood! - What do I care, as long as its all done in the name of humanity!, plate 27 from Les Philantropes Du Jour Possibly 1845

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, plate 27 from "Les Philanthropes Du Jour", in France during a period of significant social and economic change. The image critiques the concept of philanthropy as practiced by the wealthy. The central figure proclaims his intention to open a department store offering goods at half price, ostensibly to benefit the poor. However, he callously dismisses the ruin of small neighborhood shops, prioritizing his own grand vision "in the name of humanity!". Daumier's artwork offers a sharp commentary on the social structures of 19th-century France. It reflects the growing divide between the wealthy and the working class. We can gain greater insight into this piece through research into the economic policies, social movements, and the emerging culture of consumerism. This emphasizes that the meaning of art is always reliant on social and institutional context.