Prochaine ordannace du préfet de police c. 19th century

"Prochaine Ordonnance du Préfet de Police," a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, satirically depicts the absurdity of a proposed law requiring all horse-drawn carriages and riders to carry bells in order to warn pedestrians of their approach. Daumier's caricature of the Parisian upper class highlights the comical disconnect between the elite and the common folk. The exaggerated features and poses of the figures, particularly the pompous rider on horseback, emphasize the artist's humorous critique of social hierarchies and the impracticality of the law. The caption, "To avoid accidents, carriages and horses will no longer be allowed to circulate on macadamized boulevards without being equipped with a strong bell that will warn pedestrians of their approach," underscores the intended irony of the ordinance. This lithograph exemplifies Daumier's signature style of social commentary through biting wit and masterful draughtsmanship, making it a key example of 19th-century French satirical art.